Delhi: The International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to approve four-day Test matches for small countries in the ICC World Test Championship 2027-29, while India, Australia and England will continue to play traditional five-day Test matches. This change will be a big step in Test cricket, which will give small countries an opportunity to play more Test matches and long series.
According to the report of the British newspaper “The Guardian”, “ICC President Jai Shah has supported the four-day Test in the discussion held during the WTC final at Lord’s last week. This change can be implemented from the World Test Championship cycle of 2027-29.”
However, traditional series such as the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia, Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy between England and India and Asiads between England and Australia will still be five days.
Significantly, the ICC first approved a four -day test for bilateral test matches in 2017. England played a four -day Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge last month. Earlier, he played a four -day Tests against Ireland in 2019 and 2023.
The report said, “Many small countries are hesitant to organize long Test matches due to the time limit and cost, but a four-day Test can be completed in less than three weeks in a three-match series in less than three weeks”.
There is a plan to get a minimum of 98 overs every day in the four -day Test, while in the five -day Test this number is 90 overs. However, the 2025-27 World Test Championship will be played in the current five-day format. It started on Tuesday with a two -match Test series between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
A total of 27 Test series will be played in this bicycle, out of which 17 series will be of only two Test matches, while 6 series will be of three matches. India, Australia and England will play a five-Test series against each other.
Is ICC doing bias?
Recently, when it was reported that the Test matches played between India, Australia and England would be five -day, while strong teams like South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and West Indies will be forced to play a four -day Test, then a big question arises: Is there no favor in this ICC decision?
South Africa has recently won the ICC World Test Championship, and has won the title by defeating a strong Australian team. In such a situation, if such a team is asked to play a four -day Test, while the traditional ‘Big Three’ (India, Australia, England) is given a five -day facility, then it questions the basic principle of cricket’s ‘equality and fairness’.
The question is whether this argument should not apply equally to all teams? If the duration of Test cricket is to be reduced, it is for all teams, and if the traditional five -day format is to be maintained, then everyone should get equal opportunity.
The ICC should prioritize the impartiality of the game. Cricket will really remain a “game of gentleman”. If some teams will be given five days and the rest four days, then it will affect not only the level of sports, but also the prestige of the players and the dignity of the country.
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