The tale of two Tests: why it’s time for a two-tier system in cricket

IN the one corner, there was Lord's. Splendid in all its regality. A full house on the fifth day enjoying a spectacle rivalled only by events at the very same ground just a few weeks earlier, when the Proteas lifted the Test mace in spectacular fashion.

- ZAAHIER ADAMS

All three results were still possible, with both England and India teetering on the edge. The tension was palpable - sledging, swearing, and high-stakes cricket captivating a global audience.

Over 7 500km away, in far-off Jamaica, two other teams were slogging through the motions at a near-deserted Sabina Park.

Not too long ago, the Frank Worrell Trophy - contested by the West Indies and Australia - was one of the most sought-after titles in world cricket. Thousands would cram into the George Headley Stand, with the picturesque Blue Mountains providing the idyllic Caribbean backdrop.

But in 2025, the eminence of both the FWT - dominated by Australia for over two decades - and the West Indies themselves has dimmed alarmingly.

Yet, not even the Windies’ most disillusioned critic could have foreseen the looming nadir of this once-proud cricketing nation.