Our Bureau
London
There has been a lot of debate in a long time about whether the test format would be shortened from 5-day matches to 4-day matches. Now, the International Cricket Council has finally agreed to go forward with the 4-day test matches for smaller nations. This is going to start from the next World Test Championship cycle i.e., 2027-29 as per the reports.
The recent report that came out suggested that the chairman of ICC, Jay Shah had discussions with the council last week in which he has given his full support for the 4-days tests. The ICC is bringing the new change to help the format grow more in the smaller nations and help them to play more Tests and longer series.
The reports said, “During discussions last week at the WTC final at Lord’s, the ICC chair, Jay Shah, is understood to have expressed his support for four-day Tests, with a view to sanctioning them in time for the 2027-29 WTC cycle.”
However, as the reports suggest there will be three major nations who can still play the traditional 5-day matches. Australia, England and India currently hold the leverage as far as playing 5-day test matches. The series like the Ashes, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy will be permitted to have 5-day matches.
“England, Australia and India would still be permitted to schedule five-Test series of five-day matches for the Ashes, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the newly named Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, the first iteration of which begins with the first Test between England and India at Headingley on Friday,” the report stated.
The current champions of the WTC, South Africa who clinched the title just a few days back, highlighted the issue to the ICC as well. “South Africa’s threadbare itinerary despite being crowned world champions in the thrilling final against Australia at Lord’s last week has further highlighted the issue, and focused minds on the need for change,” it added.
India is going to begin the new World Test Championship Cycle 2025-27 with the 5-match series against England on 20th June. Shubman Gill who has been anointed as the new captain, will be leading a new Indian side after the retirements of some of their greats of the game like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
