In the past decade, Test cricket has lost its value. The rapid increase of T20 leagues is the reason why fans and players are taking less interest in Test cricket. However, ICC has started Test Championship to revive test cricket. But, the 5-day match seems a bit much of cricket as the most of matches these days finish under 4 days.
ICC Consider Trimming Test Cricket
Now ICC has considered trimming Tests to four days from five for the 2023-2031 cycle. There are many factors which are forcing ICC to do so. As mentioned earlier, nowadays result of test matches come in 3rd or 4th day. So the whole 5th day goes in vain. Remember those days, when most of the matches were used to end on a draw. But cricket has changed now. This year only three test matches were drawn and all three were affected by rain.
4-day test matches will allow ICC to host more matches in a calendar year. BCCI is demanding more bilateral series from ICC. Currently, India is at the no.1 spot in ICC rankings and they have dominated every touring nation in India. In the last two test series in India, the matches were lasting maximum of 4 days. India had won the day-night test against Bangladesh in 2 and a half days.
So, 4-days tests will definitely free up time to stage more events. If 4-day tests were held during the 2015-2023 cycle, it would have freed up 335 days of scheduled cricket. The 4-day test concept is not new. This year a 4-day test match was played between England and Ireland. South Africa and Zimbabwe too played one in 2017.
Cricket Australia chief Kevin Roberts told SEN Radio, “It is something that we have got to seriously consider this week. It is something that can’t be driven by emotion, but it needs to be driven by fact. We need to look at what’s the average length of Test matches over the past five-ten years in terms of time and overs,”