The International Cricket Council (ICC) is trying hard to improve the popularity of Test cricket. The global cricket body is planning to test the four-day Test cricket in the near future. Recently, the former Australian pacer Glenn McGrath has responded on this proposed initiative.
The ICC and top international cricket teams are concerned about the low popularity over the Test cricket in the worldwide. ICC and the top international cricket boards are working hard to rescue this format anyway. They have already brought the ICC World Test Championship that has started in 2019. The day/night Test with the pink ball is also another initiative to attract the crowd into the live cricket stadiums.
Now, the ICC has brought a new proposal to make the four-day Test match mandatory from the ICC World Test Championship 2023. While the five-day Test cricket is running for a long time, in recent times, many Test matches are ending inside the first four days, and even some games ended inside the first three days.
Also Read: Nathan Lyon Reacts ICC’s Four Day Test Match Proposal
I’m very much a traditionalist – Glenn McGrath
After the ICC’s latest proposal has opened up, the world cricket has started to react to it. Till the date, we have received mixed responses from the cricket world. The legendary Australian pacer Glenn McGrath doesn’t support the new idea to cut off one-day from Test cricket. He is totally against it as he hates this innovative. However, McGrath likes the day/night pink-ball Test matches.
Glenn McGrath said according to PTI, “First we will have to see the proposal, let it come… It’s too early to say. Can’t comment just like this.”
“I’m very much a traditionalist. I like the game the way it is.”
“To me five days is very special and I’d hate to see it get any shorter. The introduction of pink Tests, day-night Tests is a great way to continue keeping our game fresh and moving forward.
“In respects to changing how many days its played, I’m actually against it. I like the way it is.”
Already a few teams have played the four-day Test cricket in trial basis. South Africa and Zimbabwe played a four-day day/night Test match at Port Elizabeth in Boxing Day 2017. In July 2019, England and Ireland also played a four-day Test match at Lord’s. But the ICC wants to make this initiative more active from 2023.