Test cricket: Team India will play a five-match Test series against England from June 20.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is planning to approve four-day Test matches for smaller cricket nations in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2027-29 cycle. However, big countries like India, Australia and England can continue to play traditional five-day Tests. According to a report in ‘The Guardian’, the move will help smaller countries play more Tests and longer series.
Table of Contents
Test cricket: Jay Shah’s support
The report said that during the recent WTC final at Lord’s, ICC President Jay Shah supported the four-day Test for the 2027-29 cycle. India, Australia and England will be allowed to play five-day Tests for prestigious series like 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 approved four-day Tests for bilateral series for the first time 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.
Advantage for smaller countries
According to the report, many smaller countries are not interested in hosting Test cricket due to time and cost. The introduction of four-day Tests will allow a three-match series to 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?
