Test cricket: Team India will play a five-match Test series against England, starting June 20.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is planning to allow four-day Test matches for smaller cricket nations in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2027-29 cycle. However, bigger nations like India, Australia and England may continue to play traditional five-day Tests. According to a report in ‘The Guardian’, this move will help smaller nations play more Tests and longer series.
Jay Shah’s support
The report said that during the recent WTC Final at Lord’s, ICC President Jay Shah backed four-day Tests for the 2027-29 cycle. India, Australia and England will be allowed to play five-day Tests for prestigious series such as the Ashes, Border-Gavaskar Trophy and Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy. The Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy will begin with the first Test between India and England at Headingley on June 20.
History of four-day Tests
The ICC first approved four-day Tests for bilateral series in 2017. England played four-day Tests against Ireland in 2019 and 2023, as well as against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge last month. The format helps make Test cricket more practical for smaller countries.
Benefit for smaller countries
According to the report, many smaller countries are not interested in hosting Test cricket due to time and cost. With the introduction of four-day Tests, a three-match series can be completed in less than three weeks. To save time, a minimum of 98 overs will be played in these Tests instead of 90 overs per day.
South Africa’s victory raises the issue
Despite becoming world champions in a thrilling final against Australia at Lord’s, South Africa’s weak Test schedule highlights the issue. This further emphasised the need for four-day Tests. Do you think this change will make Test cricket more attractive to smaller countries?
FAQ
Why is Test cricket being reduced from 5 days to 4 days?
The idea is to make Test matches more compact and viewer-friendly, reduce player workload, and manage scheduling better.
Who proposed the 4-day Test format?
The proposal has been discussed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and some national boards looking to modernize the game.
When could the 4-day Test format be implemented?
While no official date is confirmed, discussions suggest it could be tested in select series within the next few years.
Will all Test matches become 4-day games?
Not necessarily. High-profile series like the Ashes or World Test Championship finals may still be played over five days.
Have 4-day Test matches been played before?
Yes, a few 4-day Tests have been tried in the past, including matches involving South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Who supports the idea of 4-day Tests?
Some cricket boards like England and South Africa have shown interest, while others, like India, have been more cautious.
Will the playing conditions change in 4-day Tests?
Yes, the overs per day may increase from 90 to 98 to compensate for the shorter format and maintain balance.