J Shah’s ICC to include four -day tests in the next World Test Championship cycle

At the World Test Championship (WTC) Final at Lord’s last week, ICC Chair Jay Shah signalled his support for introducing four‑day Tests during the 2027–29 cycle. The move, aimed at easing the burden on boards like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, could allow them to host more matches and longer series without stretching time or resources. With 17 of the 27 series in the current cycle being limited to just two Tests, the need for a more flexible format is apparent.

Now, as per the Guardian, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is ready to make four-day Test matches the norm soon. In October 2017, the ICC approved a request for a four-day Test match between South Africa and Zimbabwe. Now, the shortened Test matches can be included in the WTC cycle as well, something that will spice things up, especially for Non-“Big 3” nations.

Under the revised model, a three-Test series could be completed in less than three weeks, thanks to longer playing hours—98 overs a day instead of 90. Meanwhile, traditional five-day fixtures will still be reserved for high-profile rivalries such as the Ashes, Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), and the new Anderson-Tendulkar series.

More to follow...