Australia's Rivalry with the West Indies Could be Discontinued

Following Australia's successful 3-0 whitewash of the West Indies, there is a real possibility it could be the last test series Australia plays in the Caribbean.

The trip to the Caribbean is one that both fans and cricketers look on fondly and is full of nostalgia, but with changes likely to come to the five-day format, Australia vs. West Indies Test matches could now be a thing of the past.

The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Future Tours Program is reportedly strongly considering moving to the two-tier system which would see Australia and the Windies no longer face in Test cricket.

And a report in the Sydney Morning Herald backs that up, with the news outlet reporting there are no Tests locked in between Australia and the West Indies in the Caribbean from 2027 onwards.

Cricket Australia and the Aussie team would undoubtedly be keen for another Test series but with numbers again down it would be no surprise to see it scrapped.

However, that decision is not CA’s to make, instead if the ICC opts to split Test cricket into two divisions, the West Indies would almost certainly be in the second tier.

Another reason for that Test cricket in the Caribbean could be doomed, is the focus shifting from Test to T20 cricket.

Of the scheduled Test matches in this cricket calendar from 2023 to 2027, the Windies have and are scheduled to play just 28 Tests, which is 17 fewer than England, 16 fewer than Australia and 14 fewer than India.

If the two-tier system becomes a reality, it will almost entirely kill off one of the sport’s greatest ever Test nations.