Any reflection on Test cricket these days tends to assume that the format is in decline and hovers ‘under threat’ by the rise of 20/20 cricket. However, there are many Test match series which always generate intense public interest and have no problems in selling out stadiums—Australia vs South Africa, Australia vs New Zealand, England vs Australia, any series in India but particularly against Pakistan or Australia.

Keen eyes will note that these series mainly involve the ‘elite’ test teams and especially Australia, pointing to the need to generate new rivalries between other test playing nations. If such an interest could be forged in all test match series, the format would be in very good shape indeed. This is one reason to be sceptical of splitting the ten test playing nations into two leagues as certain existing rivalries will be lost and the potential to form new ones will be restricted.