The World Test Championship (WTC) is gearing up for a big makeover right after this cycle wraps up in July, just in time for India's much-anticipated tour of England, as reported by The Telegraph. The competition has been under fire for its setup and fairness, and now the ICC is looking to create a more balanced and competitive format.

Richard Thompson, the chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), is leading the charge on this initiative. He recently met with board chairman Jay Shah in Dubai to chat about the championship's future as part of his role on the ICC strategic growth committee.

The plan is to finalize the changes in the next five months, so the next cycle, kicking off with the England-India Test at Headingley on June 20, will follow a new structure.

Thompson shared with Telegraph Sport, “It’s clear that the current setup isn’t functioning as it should, and we need to create a fairer, more competitive competition. However, we haven’t made any recommendations yet.”

“We have five months to step back and rethink what the structure should look like moving forward. The World Test Championship needs to be fairer and more competitive. We want to ensure that the best teams make it to the final and encourage other nations to engage in Test cricket. Our goal is to protect, grow, and maintain the integrity of Test cricket because it’s essential to the game’s identity.”

One idea being tossed around is creating a two-tier system for Test cricket, which would split the teams into divisions. The goal is to boost competitiveness, but it comes with its own set of problems. Teams might not be keen on the idea of relegation, and those in the lower tier could find it tough to stay relevant in the Test scene.

Another hot topic is the scheduling inconsistencies. Right now, the World Test Championship cycle doesn’t guarantee that every team faces off against one another, which throws the rankings out of whack. Plus, the lack of matches between India and Pakistan because of political issues really undermines the championship's credibility.

How about those four-day Tests?

Talks are also set to cover the possibility of four-day Tests, which might open the door for more three-Test series, especially with franchise leagues taking over. Still, the report indicates that big series like the Ashes and other top-tier matchups will stick to the traditional five-day format.

If this new structure goes into effect, India is expected to be one of the tier-one teams, which means they probably won’t be playing four-day Tests.

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