#Title

Kohli joins debate: are four-day Tests a future or a farce?
Ever since the International Cricket Council (ICC) made the proposal to reduce the existing five-day format to a shorter four-day one for the 2023 World Test Championship, the cricketing world has been divided by discussions on the matter. India captain Virat Kohli was the latest to join the debate and strongly opposed the idea. Like Kohli, a number of current and former players have already shared their thoughts on the matter. Meanwhile, Cricket Australia (CA) said they will seriously consider the concept while the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will back making it mandatory from 2023. The cash-rich Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are yet to declare their stance.
NOT IN FAVOR
I am not a fan. I think the intent will not be right then because then you will speak of three-day Tests, I mean where do you end? Then you will speak of Test cricket disappearing. I don’t endorse that at all.
-- Virat Kohli, India captain
Ridiculous ... I’m not a fan of four-day Test matches. I believe you’ll get so many more draws and day five is crucial.
-- Nathan Lyon Australia off-spinner.
Five days are the ultimate Tests. We may not have seen the results we saw in England [during the 2019 Ashes] without the extra day. It plays a lot with the wicket and brings spin into play, so I would like to see it stay as five days.
-- Travis Head, Australia batsman.
There’s always weather and other stuff around, you can lose a day. If you look at the Test matches that have gone five days and into a last session, they’re some of the most exciting Tests in history - and there’s been quite a few in the last year or so. -- Neil Wagner New Zealand pacer.
Five for me. It might be over four days anyway but five for me.
-- Brett Lee, Former Australia pacer
I think this is going to gain some momentum. I wouldn’t be surprised if this happens in the future they’re doing a lot of work on it. But personally for me, I’m five days as well.
-- Michael Hussey, Former Australia batsman.
I’m very much a traditionalist. I like the game the way it is.
-- Glenn McGrath, Former Australia pacer
IN FAVOR
I think the administrators and broadcasters have got to look at the best way to preserve Test cricket. It’s the best form of the game, so how can we maintain that and keep moving the game on? If that’s the option, moving it to four days, that has to be looked at.
– Jos Buttler, England wicketkeeper batsman.
If you actually dissect a five-day Test match, the fifth day is costing the game a lot of money. Apart from those of us who already love Test cricket, I don’t think Test cricket has done enough to reach a new audience. So we need to make it more relevant and more appealing.
-- Michael Vaughan, Former England captain.
Cricket took a major step forward in keeping its traditional format relevant with the introduction of day-night Tests. The next move should be a reduction in length from five days to four. It is the right length for Test matches in this era.
-- Mark Taylor, Former Australia captain.
India skipper Virat Kohli stretches during a practice session on the eve of their first T20I of a three-match series against Sri Lanka at Assam Cricket Association Stadium in Guwahati today. Kohli is on the verge of achieving massive T20I world record as the right-hander needs just one more run to surpass fellow teammate Rohit Sharma and become the highest run-scorer in the shortest format. Currently, Kohli is tied with Rohit, who has been rested from the series, for the top spot with both the players having scored 2633 runs. India are coming into this contest on the back of a T20I series victories against Bangladesh and West Indies respectively.
PHOTO: AFP