The proposal of the International Cricket Council (ICC) to introduce mandatory four-day Tests from 2023 has polarized the cricketing world. ICC mulled the idea in order to make space and time for the shorter formats of the game, One-Day International (ODI) and Twenty-20, considered by the Council as popular events, in terms of audience and revenue generated.
The move by the organizing body to reduce the number of playing days in the sport’s most revered format has invited both criticism and support, with giants of the sport openly expressing their opinions on the proposal.
Planned for the 2023-2031 cycle, the council believes four-day tests will help create windows of opportunity for the body to squeeze in matches of the shorter formats and to satisfy the scheduling demands of the proliferating phenomenon of domestic T20 leagues, which have become lucrative options for the Boards of the respective countries who host them.
A report by ESPNcricinfo claims that if four-day tests were introduced in the eight-year period from 2015 to 2023, 355 playing days would have been shaved off from the cycle.
The debate over the move is already raging, with leading players of the sport and boards both rejecting and endorsing the concept.
Among staunch supporters of the proposal are Cricket South Africa, the nation’s governing body for the sport, who recently refuted claims by a foreign newspaper that the Proteas were opposed to the Council’s move. “In view of an un-sourced and misleading report in the media this morning, please be advised that it is Cricket South Africa’s official policy to support four-day Test match cricket,” Cricket South Africa said in a statement. Having hosted the first official four-day test in the sport’s history, South Africa’s statement, that it backs the idea, is no surprise. Held in December 2017, the first four-day test witnessed South Africa beat Zimbabwe in a one-sided affair.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has also offered support for the move. While calling themselves “definite proponents of four-day test concept”, the ECB has clarified its support is a cautious one, as it “understands it's an emotive topic for players, fans and others who have concerns about challenging the heritage of Test cricket.” The Board stated that four-day tests could “provide a sustainable solution to the complex scheduling needs and player workloads,” but wanted a “thorough and considered consultation where all opinions are explored.”
Former English captain Michael Vaughan is one cricketer who has come out in vocal support for four-day tests. In 2018, the BBC reported Vaughan as saying that the move for four-day tests was “worth a try to rejuvenate the format.” Recently, Vaughan reiterated his stance in an article for the Telegraph published early in this month, vouching for the new format.
Former Australian captain Mark Taylor, in his column for the Sydney Morning Herald, also offered his support for the proposal. Calling day-night tests a “major step in keeping the game’s traditional format alive”, he stated that four-day tests should be the next thing that should be introduced. He also wrote that four days were the right length for test matches in this era.
Spin legend Shane Warne had opted for four-day tests, way back in 2015, when he expressed his support for the new format. Warne was reported saying, “I think that's going to be more appealing for people and it's worth a try.”
However, a slew of statements have come out in vehement opposition to the Council’s proposal from various quarters—legends of the sport, contemporary players, and coaches. All are in unison against the move, in the opinion that it would tamper the format’s sheen it had acquired over years of play.
Virat Kohli, the Indian cricket team captain, had expressed his disinterest in reducing the number of days of play in Test matches. “You know the Day-Night Test is the most that should be changed about Test cricket, according to me. Then you are purely only talking about getting numbers, entertainment and you know. I think the intent will not be right then because then you will speak of three-day Tests. I mean where do you end? Then you will speak of Test cricket disappearing,” Kohli had commented. The Indian captain said that the move isn’t fair to the “purest format of the game.”
Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar has urged the ICC to refrain from “tinkering” with the format, which “has to be played in the way it has been played for so many years.” Tendulkar, the format’s leading run scorer, admitted that while the sport should cater to the audience, there should be something for the “purists” and Test cricket was it.
Ravi Shastri, Indian cricket team’s head coach, has also joined the bandwagon of vociferous opponents to the proposed four-day tests. Shastri openly called four-day tests as “nonsense”, and said that if the ICC wanted to tamper with the format, the top six sides should not be included in the experiment. “If you want to preserve Tests then let the top six play more against each other. You have the shorter format to popularise the game,” Shastri commented.
Australian legend Ricky Ponting has also voiced his opposition to the concept, saying that four-day tests would lead to more games ending in a draw. "I'm against it but I'd like to hear from the people who are pushing it what the major reason is,” Ponting was quoted saying. Joining Ponting are the likes of Rohit Sharma, Tim Paine, Ben Stokes, Mahela Jayawardane, Gautham Gambhir, Faf du Plessis, Nathan Lyon and other players currently in the field and retired.
Amidst all the heated debate, the ICC’s cricket committee has clarified that it will deliberate the proposal in March. The committee, headed by Anil Kumble, includes Mahela Jayawardane, Andrew Strauss, Rahul Dravid and Shaun Pollock. The vocal opposition to the idea should be a deterrent to the Council’s move, also considering the fact that BCCI, cricket’s biggest cash cow, is on the contrary to the governing body’s stance.
