HEADLINE: Former West Indies Fast Bowler Benjamin backs Two-Tier Test Cricket System

ormer West Indies fast bowler Kenneth Benjamin has thrown his support behind the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) proposed two-tier system for Test cricket, describing the potential change as “long coming” and necessary for the sport’s development.

Benjamin, sharing his views on the ongoing discussions between the ICC and cricket stakeholders, emphasized that the proposed system would benefit numerous teams, particularly associate nations. “I think it is better for a lot of the teams if they have a two-tier [system]. And, honestly, I know West Indies may feel it a bit, if they’re pushed down in that, but I believe it is something that is overdue,” Benjamin stated.

The proposed structure could feature either the top seven teams in the premier tier, with five teams competing in the second tier. A key feature of the system would be a promotion-relegation mechanism operating on a two-year cycle, coinciding with the World Test Championship finals.

Benjamin strongly advocates for the promotion-relegation aspect, suggesting that the bottom-placed team from the top tier should face relegation while the leading team from the second tier earns promotion. “That’s how we’re going to know if they’re getting better,” he explained, highlighting the importance of providing teams with tangible goals and development pathways.

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In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com
i don't back it, and benjamin is drunk, high and mad if he thinks antigua can survive as a cricketing nation even in t20s. but it is the result of gross mismanagement........especially in the last 15 years

And there continues the absurdity of the tail wagging the dog.

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

Benjie
Have been hurt by WICB in the past and probably responding in this statement
Dont see how a 2 tiered system will benefit any country outside the top 7

Look WI don't belong in the top tier of World cricket. The sooner WI get over ourselves the better for us because everyone else has moved on and WI s(t)uck, to borrow a phrase. Cant be getting ICC money cycle after cycle on the premise of what WI were. This is the 21st century, 2025 to booth, and we have nothing, zilch, zero, nada to show for having been here for 24 years (remember, likkit glory - 2012,2016 - don't count for many). As it is we are 9th in the Test rankings (definite second-tier material), will miss the Champion Trophy (50 Over) and finding it increasingly difficult to hang on to a top 5 position in our supposed strongest format (20 over). Why again are we acting as if we should belong? Hubris!

Keep at it Kenny!

In reply to Jumpstart

Some of these former players are indeed naive, which is not a crime, but their opinions gets international traction which can cause damage as others in foreign land may take it as support in our region for this outrageous proposal.

Did he not know the two tier system being proposed has a clause that exclude India, England and Australia from being demoted? So only Pak, Bang, SL & SA can be demoted. If half of the teams in tier one, face no consequence for performance, then why have it at all?

The truth is, based on the bilateral tours, the weaker teams hardly play the stronger ones, so in a way, we already have tier two when it comes to number of test matches and this is one of the problem that prevents weaker teams from improving- they need more cricket with stronger teams, not less.

Reform is badly needed, but this two tier system when you already have so small a number of test nations is absurd and it is not reform, it is a money grab

In reply to Emir


Excellent analysis. the world is so polarized right now that even comments from players as obscure as benjamin will get traction if its in favor of the side in control of the narrative.
but as i said, WI's two tiered issues now are a direct result of the destruction of Chris Gayle's team, which most of these past players stoood up and watched.....and said nothing

chris gayle, ramnaresh sarwan, dwayne bravo, jerome taylor, fidel edwards, shiv chanderpaul, adrian bharath, denesh ramdin, brendan nash, narsingh deonarine, ravi rampaul and kemar roach.
Their achievements
1. Drawing a test series with Sri Lanka in a series we were widely expected to lose
2. First WI team not to lose a series in NZ in 13 years
3. First team to win a wisden trophy in 11 years.
4. First and only West Indian team to win a test match in south africa
5. participants in an extremely competitive Frank worrell trophy which we would have drawn if not for poor umpiring by Billy Bowden, umpiring so poor, it was criticized by Wisden who we know are no fans of the WI
6. First WI team since 1984 to win an ODI series in england

All this was achieved in only two and a half years.

By the autumn of 2010, gayle was removed as captain, dwayne bravo had played his last test at 27 and Ramnaresh Sarwan, our most naturally gifted stroke maker since the Prince of POS, would have his test career ended a few months later. Jerome Taylor, the most naturally gifted international paceman since Allan donald(who made his debut after ambrose, bishop, waqar, walsh and waz, which is why i mentioned him), would not play for the west indies for 5 years between 2009 and 2014....and he was't injured all that time. the fate of WI cricket is nobody's fault but the board's