Test cricket will change! Matches will be of 4 days instead of 5, know when it can be implemented

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?