India unwilling to take part in 4-day Test matches

With the gradual shortening of term in the sport, we have seen the popularity of the longer versions of the game following a downward spiral. With a lot more excitement and drama offered in a span of just 3 hours, people have embraced the T20 format of the game with open arms. In a bid to renew public interest in Test cricket, International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to experiment with 4-day Test matches. But hardly was the first 4-day Test match was announced that cricketing giant India has declared their unwillingness to take part in such a fiasco.

The decision of starting the 4-day format of Test cricket was introduced in the recent ICC meeting held in Auckland. It was also announced that South Africa, who are currently annihilating the Bangladeshi tigers, will etch their name in history when they will take on Zimbabwe for the first 4-day Test match. However, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is not willing to follow the same route. They will rather follow ex-Indian coach Anil Kumble-led ICC Cricket Committee’s recommendation, which is strictly against the new format.

“India will not play any four day Test matches, at least in the near future. Any Test match involving India will be a five-day affair. The BCCI believes that there is a lot of merit in Anil Kumble-led Cricket Committee’s recommendations that duration should not be tinkered with. But since four-day Test matches are bi-partite agreements, if two nations are okay, they will go ahead with it,” said a senior BCCI official to PTI on the condition of anonymity.

“Let’s be practical. For Ireland or Afghanistan, it will be very difficult that they can be competitive in a five-day format straightaway. If Test matches against these countries end inside three days or little over it, it is only logical that four-day Tests are tried out,” the official mentioned.

No points, no games

Besides all the ‘practical’ theories and assumptions, another important reason behind BCCI’s unwillingness to take part in 4-day Tests is that no points will be awarded if a team manages to secure a victory in a match of such format.

“Only five-day Tests will have points that will be counted for the World Test Championship. What’s the point in playing matches that won’t count for anything. In any case, if we play Ireland or Afghanistan also, it will be five-day affairs,” the senior official said.

When he was asked about whether the BCCI would succumb under the pressure from broadcasters, if any, to indulge in the shorter version of Test cricket, the official replied: “We will cross that bridge when it comes.”