New Delhi: In a move that could reshape the future of Test cricket, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is reportedly prepared to allow four-day Test matches for smaller cricketing nations during the 2027-29 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. However, the traditional five-day format will remain in place for marquee series involving cricket’s ‘Big Three’—India, England, and Australia.
According to a report by The Guardian, ICC chair Jay Shah is understood to have voiced his support for the shift to four-day Tests during discussions held at Lord’s during the WTC final last week. The proposal aims to make Test cricket more viable for smaller nations by cutting costs and making scheduling more flexible.
The new format is expected to allow nations with limited resources to host more Test matches or conduct longer series. Shorter Tests would reduce logistical and broadcasting expenses and also enable an entire three-match series to be completed in under three weeks. To make up for the reduced number of days, four-day Tests will mandate a minimum of 98 overs per day, instead of the usual 90.
Despite the push for a shorter format, India, England, and Australia will retain the option to play traditional five-day Tests, especially for high-profile series like the Ashes, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and the newly introduced Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. The latter will debut with England hosting India at Headingley this Friday.
The ICC first permitted four-day Test matches in 2017 for bilateral series. England have already experimented with the format, playing Zimbabwe in a four-day match at Trent Bridge last month, and previously facing Ireland in similar games in 2019 and 2023.
The move gains further relevance in light of South Africa’s sparse Test schedule, despite their recent title-winning performance in the WTC final against Australia. Cricket boards from smaller nations have increasingly expressed concerns about the high costs and time demands of organizing five-day matches.
For now, the current WTC cycle (2025–27) will continue with the existing five-day format. It begins with a two-Test series between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh this week. Of the 27 series scheduled for this cycle, 17 will be two-Test affairs, and six will feature three matches. Only three five-Test series are on the calendar—all involving contests among England, Australia, and India.
While the full ICC decision is yet to be officially confirmed, the potential shift to four-day Tests reflects an effort to balance the tradition of red-ball cricket with the evolving financial and scheduling realities of the modern game.
