World cricket authorities will "investigate what would be a radical split of Test nations into two conferences as a way of reinvigorating the traditional format," according to Jon Pierik of THE AGE. The idea "was floated" among CEOs who attended last week's Int'l Cricket Council board meeting in Cape Town. The merits of such a move "will be reviewed as part of an ICC analysis of all possible structures to be completed before February's board meeting." There were "no specific details given about how the 10-Test playing nations would be divided, although it would not be rankings based." Officials would also need to "determine whether more nations would need to be added." Countries would "also want their marquee series preserved," particularly the Ashes and the battle for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between Australia and India. Finding a stand-alone window for the Indian Premier League "is also an issue." The suggestion has been seen as an "acknowledgement that change is needed." With poor attendances a "long-time concern in many countries, officials continue to grapple with how to add context to the sport's three formats, with Test cricket seen to be the most under threat outside of Australia and England" (THE AGE, 10/18).
