[VIDEOS] Should Test matches be reduced to four days instead of five days?

[BouncerGuy]

There has been a lot of talk about whether Test matches should be shortened to four days instead of five. People who support this idea say modern cricket is faster, with most matches ending in four days anyway.

They believe the fifth day is not needed. But others think the fifth day is very important and makes Test cricket special, giving teams more time for big comebacks and strategies.

We've had some really quick Test matches in 2023-2024 already:

• South Africa vs India: This one was over super fast, in just over two days!
• Australia vs West Indies: Australia won easily in three days.
• England vs. Ireland: Ireland got hammered and lost in three days.
• New Zealand vs South Africa (2nd Test): New Zealand won on day four.
• West Indies vs England (3rd Test): West Indies won on day four, too.
• India vs Bangladesh (1st Test): India thrashed Bangladesh in 4 days.
• India vs New Zealand (1st Test): Kiwis dominated India at home and won in 3 days.
• India vs New Zealand (2nd Test): Another thrashing for India at the hands of Kiwis in 3 days.
• India vs New Zealand (3rd Test): This one also ended in 3 days.
• Pakistan vs England (2nd Test): This test also ended in 3 days
• Pakistan vs England (3rd Test): Another 3-day game

Do these short games make Test cricket better, or are they just too rushed? Are we losing those amazing games that go all the way to the fifth day and end in a tie?

What do you think? Should Test matches be shorter or stay at five days? Let's talk about it

 

[Hitman]

No thanks! No tinkering with the rules of the Test format. Pink ball Tests and D/N Tests are fine though.

 

[mominsaigol]

There has been a lot of talk about whether Test matches should be shortened to four days instead of five. People who support this idea say modern cricket is faster, with most matches ending in four days anyway.

They believe the fifth day is not needed. But others think the fifth day is very important and makes Test cricket special, giving teams more time for big comebacks and strategies.

We've had some really quick Test matches in 2023-2024 already:

• South Africa vs India: This one was over super fast, in just over two days!
• Australia vs West Indies: Australia won easily in three days.
• England vs. Ireland: Ireland got hammered and lost in three days.
• New Zealand vs South Africa (2nd Test): New Zealand won on day four.
• West Indies vs England (3rd Test): West Indies won on day four, too.
• India vs Bangladesh (1st Test): India thrashed Bangladesh in 4 days.
• India vs New Zealand (1st Test): Kiwis dominated India at home and won in 3 days.
• India vs New Zealand (2nd Test): Another thrashing for India at the hands of Kiwis in 3 days.
• India vs New Zealand 3rd Test: This one also ended in 3 days.

Do these short games make Test cricket better, or are they just too rushed? Are we losing those amazing games that go all the way to the fifth day and end in a tie?

What do you think? Should Test matches be shorter or stay at five days? Let's talk about it

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo

 

[Varun]

Nope. Test cricket is fine as it is.

 

[sweep_shot]

No from me too.

I prefer Test to be 5 days long.

 

[Devadwal]

5 test is essential ,no need to change the Traditional test cricket rules .

This pink ball test should be scrapped .

 

[Bhaijaan]

On the contrary there have been a few test matches that suffered 2-3 days lost due to rain or wet outfield but we ended up seeing a result and a great test match because there were 5 days allocated.

I think the first WTC final between Bharat and NZ was almost washed out but we made full use of the 5 days to lose to Kiwis in a royal fashion.

 

[Fanboy375]

I think making test match day 50-70 minutes shorter but allowing 5 days to play is better choice

 

[RidiculousMan]

Why you want to turn this into County?

There are so many games where just at the end of 4th day things set up for a cracking 5th day. It will be of great disservice to rob people of that final and 5th day contest.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Sri Lanka vs South Africa went on till 5th day.

 

[kingusama92]

Five days is fine.

It ensures that any game that needs a fifth day has the chance of having a winner.

The main issue they must resolve is the over rate because teams are way too lazy with their approach. The points penalty is clearly not doing enough to get them to hurry up. There has to be an active solution, which will ensure things move along at a brisk pace.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

I think five days are fine because not every pitch is rank turner or as much lovely that could produce result in 4 days

 

[DeadlyVenom]

If test cricket will continue to be subsided by T20 then you can make it 5.

If it wants to be a stand alone financially viable product one of the steps should be to turn it to 4 days.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Cricket has become so fast so there’s no harm in making Test cricket four days instead of five after all not many people are willing to stay glued to their televisions or at the grounds for so many days.

 

[Hikaru]

Test Cricket is the best thing about Cricket, closely followed by the IPL. Please leave it the way it is.

 

[atreus]

If anything, make them timeless to encourage slow play and innings building.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Five days come in handy if you have a day spoiled due to anything like rain etc.

Games are finishing in four days anyways.

 

[sweep_shot]

If anything, make them timeless to encourage slow play and innings building.

This is a good idea in theory but not practical.

There is so much cricket (ODI, T20, franchise leagues, The Hundred etc.).

I would love to see timeless Tests, however.

 

[Major]

sure if they eliminate the draw factor

 

[W63L35]

There has been a lot of talk about whether Test matches should be shortened to four days instead of five. People who support this idea say modern cricket is faster, with most matches ending in four days anyway.

They believe the fifth day is not needed. But others think the fifth day is very important and makes Test cricket special, giving teams more time for big comebacks and strategies.

We've had some really quick Test matches in 2023-2024 already:

• South Africa vs India: This one was over super fast, in just over two days!
• Australia vs West Indies: Australia won easily in three days.
• England vs. Ireland: Ireland got hammered and lost in three days.
• New Zealand vs South Africa (2nd Test): New Zealand won on day four.
• West Indies vs England (3rd Test): West Indies won on day four, too.
• India vs Bangladesh (1st Test): India thrashed Bangladesh in 4 days.
• India vs New Zealand (1st Test): Kiwis dominated India at home and won in 3 days.
• India vs New Zealand (2nd Test): Another thrashing for India at the hands of Kiwis in 3 days.
• India vs New Zealand (3rd Test): This one also ended in 3 days.
• Pakistan vs England (2nd Test): This test also ended in 3 days
• Pakistan vs England (3rd Test): Another 3-day game

Do these short games make Test cricket better, or are they just too rushed? Are we losing those amazing games that go all the way to the fifth day and end in a tie?

What do you think? Should Test matches be shorter or stay at five days? Let's talk about it

I will do a statistical analysis on the length of the test matches but before that .... can you please explain what is the real benefit of reducing the number of days from 5 to 4? I mean, if the test is scheduled for 5 days and ends in 4... that's fine. But if the test is schedule for 5 days and ends in 3 or 4 days, who cares? All the player and staff goes home one day early.

 

[FearlessRoar]

It is becoming the talk of the town

https://twitter.com/x/status/1866826379683102961

 

[W63L35]

Yes, there is an increase in number of test finishing early but that should not be the only excuse to start scheduling 4-day tests. I mean, what is 5-day test hurts? What's the harm in 5-day tests?

A total of 191 tests have been played this decade.
A total of only 27 tests (14.13%) ended in a draw.

Below is the list of 41 tests that went beyond 360 overs (90 overs a day x 4 day = 360 overs)....assuming there were no rain delays. So if these tests were scheduled for only 4 days, these tests would have ended in a draw.
That would increased the number of draws to 68 (35.60%).
Last time had so many (35%) draws was in 4 decades ago... in 1990s.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

Test and ODI should be scrapped and 30 over matches should become the standard. One format. Short enough to not sit through an entire day or days for a result. Long enough for strategy.

They should trial T30s asap. Organise a quad tournament between OZ, England, India and Pakistan in Australia.

 

[Bilal Ahmad15]

Yes go to 4 days

The huge majority of test matches are finishing in day 4, and we often see test matches ending in day 4 session 1 or day 3.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Tests should be 7 days at least.

To give chance for every game to finish.

1 week is true test of patience.

 

[sweep_shot]

Tests should be 7 days at least.

To give chance for every game to finish.

1 week is true test of patience.

I am okay with that but it is unlikely to happen since Test is not profitable for most cricket boards.

I personally would love to see timeless Tests.