ICC proposes 4-day Tests for smaller nations but makes three exemptions

In a ground-breaking development, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is carefully mulling over the possibility of introducing four-day Tests for smaller nations in the 2027-29 World Test Championship cycle. By truncating the match by one day, the governing body aims to help the small ICC members maximize the opportunity to play more cricket. If implemented, the change would go down as one of the most radical changes by the ICC in recent times. 

However, according to reports, three countries will be exempted from this plan. India, Australia, and England will continue to play five-day Test matches. 

See also: ICC declines India’s request to host upcoming WTC final: Report

Jay Shah offers his support for a four-day Test

According to a report published by "The Guardian" newspaper, the ICC chair Jay Shah had an interaction with the officials during the WTC Final at Lord's, where he reportedly expressed his desire to have a four-day Test setup in place before the next WTC cycle. 

"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."

The report further added that countries such as India, Australia, and England are exempt from the plan and are permitted to host a five-match Test series comprising five matches for their respective bilateral series, like the Ashes, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and the newly named Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. 

The smaller nations face challenges while playing five-day Tests, as it is often tight on their already congested schedule and entails a lot of cost. But by reducing the length of a Test match, small teams can have longer series, even though the days that they play may remain short. 

"Many smaller nations are reluctant to host Tests due to the time they take out of the schedule and the cost, but a move to four-day cricket would enable an entire three-Test series to be played in less than three weeks."

The four-day Test theory is not new to the ICC. The global cricketing body has previously sanctioned four-day Tests in the past. Four-day Tests came into existence for bilateral competitions in 2017. England itself took part in some of those games. They faced Zimbabwe in a one-off four-day Test earlier last month, and also played against Ireland back in 2019 and 2023 in a one-off showdown as well.