ST JOHN’S, Antigua — Legendary former West Indies fast bowler Kenneth Benjamin is calling for the implementation of a revolutionary two-tier Test cricket system, emphasizing that such a change is essential for the continued growth and competitiveness of the sport.
The 57-year-old cricket veteran, who represented the West Indies in 26 Tests and 26 One-Day Internationals between 1992 and 1998, believes that the introduction of tiered rankings will greatly enhance the quality of international cricket. His comments come amid discussions set to take place later this month between the International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman and key representatives from Australia, India, and England about the prospect of dividing the world’s 12 full members into two tiers based on their rankings.
While some West Indian cricket figures, including the esteemed Sir Clive Lloyd and Cricket West Indies (CWI) President Dr Kishore Shallow, have expressed strong opposition to the notion, Benjamin has firmly thrown his weight behind the proposal. He envisions a system that would introduce both promotion and relegation, allowing teams at the bottom of the standings the chance to rise through the ranks and face off against the best the sport has to offer.
“I think it is better for a lot of the teams if they have a two-tier system,” Benjamin asserted. “And honestly, while I know the West Indies might feel the sting if they’re placed in that lower tier, I believe it’s a change that’s long overdue. This will be a true test of improvement.”
Potential benefits for struggling teams
Benjamin, ever the optimist, also highlighted the potential benefits for struggling teams, particularly those in the lower tier, suggesting that they would be highly motivated to improve in the hopes of advancing to the upper echelons of world cricket. He explained that the opportunity to compete against the top-tier teams would push developing nations to grow and challenge the best in the game.
“It’s not just about playing at a lower level,” Benjamin emphasized. “It’s about having something to strive for — the chance to climb up and test yourself against the world’s best players.”
In his vision for the future of the game, Benjamin even speculated about the eventual disbandment of the West Indies team, a scenario in which individual Caribbean nations would form separate cricket teams, much like what is seen in football. While this change may not be imminent, Benjamin believes it could be the eventual reality for territories such as Antigua and Barbados, each pursuing their own separate identities in the sport.
“It may not happen in our lifetime, but I truly believe that one day, Antigua will play separately, and Barbados too, just like we see in football,” Benjamin remarked.
