India, England main barriers to Test Championship: ICC

International Cricket Council (ICC) chief Haroon Lorgat says India and England are proving to be the main barriers to the launch of a planned World Test Championship that he believes could help the survival of Test cricket following the advent of the highly-popular Twenty20 cricket.

"I would like to convince people that the way to ensure Test cricket survives is through a championship model. The only two countries who do not see the argument are India and England, but debate is growing all the time," Lorgat told the Guardian, on Tuesday.

He also revealed that the Maryleborne Cricket Club (MCC) were in favour of the proposed Test championship but the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had not shown their willingness yet.

"The MCC seem to have come out in favour but when I met the ECB recently it was the wrong time to tackle them in detail. They were too high on the Ashes," Lorgat said.

Lorgat said such a championship would not take any sheen away from important rivalries like the Ashes, played every two years between Australia and England.

"I don't understand their thinking. The original plan was to have a four-year cycle for the championship, which protects icon series like the Ashes. It was very doable. Our Future Tours Programme will meet soon as the current schedule runs to May 2012.

"I would really like to see the Test championship included from there on. There's no doubt a Test championship would be of great benefit. Let's say you and your mate are South African and Australian -- and India are about to play Sri Lanka. If the result impacts on your team's championship standing you are bound to be more interested," said Lorgat.

The Guardian further said that officials at Lord's -- like those in other countries -- were put off by the initial idea to spread the World Championship over a four-year period, when the strength of the competing teams would vary enormously. It added that the ECB is also worried about plans to start the Test championship in 2012 because it would clash with the London Olympics.