The ICC’s cricket committee will discuss the 4-day Test proposal later in March in spite of the growing list of experts and cricketers, including Virat Kohli, criticising the proposed format.
-- Advertisement --The big news was delivered by former Indian cricketer Anil Kumble, the head of the cricket committee. He informed that the proposal is to be discussed in Dubai between March 27-31 during ICC’s next round of meetings.
“Since I am part of the committee, I can’t tell what I am thinking about it (proposal) at the moment. We will discuss it in the meeting and let you know,” Kumble said. The other big names in the committee include Rahul Dravid, Andrew Strauss, Mahela Jayawardene and Shaun Pollock.
However, the proposal, that will be applied for the 2023-2031 cycle, has not been well received by some of the cricket’s biggest names including Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Sourav Ganguly and Kohli.
-- Advertisement --The BCCI boss, in particular, stated that “it is too early” to talk about the format.
While speaking ahead of the 3-match T20I series opener against Sri Lanka, Kohli had made clear his sides. “Day-night [cricket] is another step towards commercialising Test cricket and creating excitement around it, but it can’t be tinkered around too much. I don’t believe so,” he said.
-- Advertisement --Virat Kohli isn't a fan of four-day Tests 🚫
How about you?https://t.co/tmZPksVSbi pic.twitter.com/wzHzV6hEF8
-- Advertisement --— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) January 5, 2020
Ponting also made public his disapproval for four-day Test matches.
“I understand there is a commercial side to it, saving money and things like that and how they would start on a Thursday to finish on Sunday,” Ponting was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au, “I’d like to hear the other reasons behind it. I don’t understand it enough and I’m very much a traditionalist, so if something’s not really badly broken then why do we need to fix it or change it?”
However, the idea has found takers in the form of England and Australia boards apart from Test greats such as Shane Warne, Michael Vaughan and Mark Taylor.
One of the major reasons for why ICC is considering the controversial four-day format is to free up the calendar that is jam-packed with scores of matches and T20 leagues.
Twitter Reactions
Four-day Tests: 👍 or 👎?https://t.co/lGzkAKDrP1 pic.twitter.com/z67R4hKpdF
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) January 2, 2020
If four-day Tests guarantee that there will be at least three Tests in a series then I am all for it.
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) December 30, 2019
The ECB says it "cautiously" supports four-day Tests being introduced.
More 👉 https://t.co/ODI81N1GOu#bbccricket pic.twitter.com/WNOThMd3tD
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 31, 2019
Virat Kohli, the most influential player on the planet, is against The Hundred and has now said the same about four-day Tests…
— Ali Martin (@Cricket_Ali) January 4, 2020
https://twitter.com/Js87958738/status/1213716338235072512?s=20
Time is the essence of Test cricket and a move to 4-day Tests would ultimately damage the gold standard game by changing its fundamental naturehttps://t.co/T7P1QSWQDj
— Mike atherton (@Athersmike) January 1, 2020
Just did a blog on @cricbuzz on 4 day tests. Think we should trial it in a series where matches are expected to go to day 5. Sometimes things that look good in theory throw up unexpected trends in practice. Will also be an admission that 5 day cricket is financially untenable
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 3, 2020
Virat Kohli says no to four day Tests. So that should be the end of it.
— Elizabeth Ammon (@legsidelizzy) January 4, 2020
“The idea of play four-day Tests is rubbish and no one should be interested in this. Sourav Ganguly will not let this thing happen as he is an intelligent man with a lot of cricketing experience. He will keep test cricket alive." – Shoaib Akhtar.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 6, 2020
With all the recent talk about four day Test matches.. DYK?
Today in 1892, 128 years ago…
The #Ashes match at Melbourne was the first ever Test to involve a fifth day of actual play. Until then in the first 34 Tests, the matches were completed in four days or less, incl draws.— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) January 6, 2020
Nobody clamouring for more draws, and yes that is what would happen in the absence of sporting declarations and/or spicy pitches. The public does not require four day tests. Nor does Virat, so we should move on.
— LordAram (@LordAram) January 6, 2020
If this was a four day Test, we’d almost certainly be heading for a draw right now.
— Eleanor Oldroyd (@EllyOldroyd) January 6, 2020
When does the four-day Test trial end? #AUSvNZ
— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) January 6, 2020
Certainly more opportunity for a limited-overs specialist to hone their craft than a FC specialist who has fewer tests and four-day games to play throughout the year. https://t.co/10iNTxWY0E
— James Godby (@jimlikescricket) January 5, 2020
