'Negative strategy to cost points in ICC Test C'ship'

Considered one of the main reasons behind low turn-out in the five-day version of the game, defensive tactics are likely to invite negative points in the proposed ICC Test Championship.

According to Sydney Morning Herald, the idea of a Test Championship, mooted by Cricket Australia, has been discussed at length in the past six months by the ICC and has found support from all the member boards.

The Championship would be played four-yearly on a home-and-away basis with a quadrennial trophy ceremony and points deduction for negative strategy, the report said.

However, nothing is cast in iron yet with I S Bindra, who will take over as the principal adviser to ICC in July, saying a lot of spadework needed to be done.

"The form, the format and the frequency are all part of the discussion at the moment," Bindra said.

However, concerns remain as to how the championship would be adjusted in an already crammed international schedule.