International Cricket Council (ICC) has thought to implement the idea of a four-day Test match, changing the traditional five-day Test match. The legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has criticised the idea of alteration in the traditional format of cricket.
Logically, the four-day Test match will increase the load on the bowlers as well as the batsmen. Sachin Tendulkar especially mentioned that it would harm the spinner who gets the benefit of the pitch on the fifth day. Further added, that he doesn’t agree to interfere with the purest form of cricket.
Four-day Tests will have 98 overs in a day, unlike five-day Tests which see 90 overs bowled in a day. According to facts, more than 60 per cent of Test matches since 2018 have finished inside four days. So, ICC is supporting the fact to start the four-day Test match.
Earlier, the Australian spinner Nathan Lyon had also spoken against the introduction of the four-day Test match. He opined that all the recent crucial games go to the fifth day and the invitation to the new format would bring more draw matches.
Sachin Tendulkar also pointed it and added that it was not fair to take out the advantage of the fifth day from the spinners.
“Spinners look forward to bowling with the scuffed ball, taking advantage of day five of the roughs created on the wicket. All that is a part of Test cricket. Is it fair to take that advantage away from the spinners,” Sachin said.
“There is T20, it is one-dayers and then there are T10 and 100-ball cricket. The test is the purest form of cricket. It should not be tinkered with,” he added.
Sachin Tendulkar gives the solution
He said ICC should work on improving pitches rather than changing the traditional format. Gautam Gambhir, in his column for TOI, has given similar advice to work on pitches which will make the game more lively.
“The ICC, in my view, should focus on providing quality playing surfaces. Let the ball do things – spin, seam, swing, and bounce. It will automatically liven-up the game. It will also throw up more results. Currently, there are far too many dead games,” Sachin opined.
The Indian skipper Virat Kohli has also said that he doesn’t endorse this idea. After this, Gambhir also supported the skipper’s word. Gambhir even said that it was a ridiculous idea and should be dropped.