The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly agreed in principle to shorten Test matches from five days to four for the majority of its member nations, beginning with the 2027–29 World Test Championship cycle. The move, aimed at making the longest format of the game more commercially viable and time-efficient, has sparked mixed reactions across the cricketing world.
According to British media, the change will not apply to the traditional cricketing powerhouses—India, England, and Australia—who will continue to play five-day Tests. The decision reinforces the divide in scheduling and treatment among member nations.
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Teams such as Pakistan, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies will play four-day Tests under the new policy. The ICC believes this shift could help revive interest in Test cricket among emerging markets and ease calendar congestion.
Critics, however, argue that reducing the duration of Tests compromises the strategic depth and historical integrity of the format, particularly for teams outside the “Big Three” who now face unequal playing standards.
