The quest for context
How the format of a proposed Test Championship has evolved over the years
ESPNcricinfo staff
08-Feb-2017
The ICC Test Championship Mace is given to the top-ranked Test side • Robert Prezioso/Getty Images
2008 - Boston Consulting Group plans for World Test Championship, advocated by Cricket Australia, discussed at ICC and rejected
2009 - Then ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat says England and India blocking moves for a playoff
2010 - ICC proposes a Test Championship playoff for 2013, featuring two semis and a final
2011 - Playoff deferred to 2017 after model is rejected by broadcast rights holders ESPNStar, who prefer continuation of ODI Champions Trophy
2013 - ICC annual conference in June reaffirms commitment to Test Championship playoff in 2017 in place of Champions Trophy. England scheduled to host the first edition, with India to host the second in 2021
2014 - "Big Three" of India, England and Australia boards overturns ICC event revenue model and scraps Test Championship playoff, reinstating Champions Trophy for 2017
2016 - Appointment of Shashank Manohar as ICC chairman, replacing N Srinivasan, leads to reopened Test Championship league discussions. Initial "two-tier" model rejected
2017 - Proposal for two six-team conferences evolves into 9-3 model, meaning top nine nations play four Test series a year over two years before playoff. Proposal approved by ICC chief executives committee in February