4 day tests?

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10581791


Cricketing purists, prepare to be outraged!!

Given that I hate 20/20 (well I suppose 20/20 is alright if you are abysmally ignorant and illiterate Indian peasants, and for those of similar education in the West) I find this idea an abomination.

We need to bring back for five test series of five days duration each!!!


Oh and the Raj. We need to bring back the Raj to. Uppity Indians, 200 more years under the white man's lash should be their punishment for 20/20.


I am going to form a facebook group, "Chaps in bowler hats for five day test match cricket."

I would rather go d/n with a pink or orange ball before doing this IMO

Well the amount of days is not important so long as the current number of overs isn't compromised. I think 450 overs is just right for a test, and it needs to be distinguishable from first class- which I gather is the intention of the ICC anyway. No problem with lessening the amount of days as long as the spirit is maintained.

Same goes for d/n tests and an orange ball or whatever. The cricinfo article was (not surprisingly) a bit better than the Herald one.

As an aside, T20 is the best thing to happen to cricket in nearly 40 years. It's all very well being purist (as I certainly am), but you have to realise that if it brings popularity and notoriety to the game, then it's an objectively good thing. It is up to the management of cricket worldwide to ensure that the popularity has a trickle-down effect without watering down the ultimate test <match cricket>.



gc.

Well put sir.

yeah. I was a lot more anti 20/20 until I started to realise just how much it is helping the game grow

Its these Indian frachise style comps that are going to pop up everywhere that worry me though

Umm, tests haven't always been 5 days

Early on there were 3 day, 4 day, and timeless tests

So it's hardly an assault on the purists.

Actually, on reflection, New Zealand has been playing four day test cricket for years so we probably wouldn't notice the difference.

vadz

I think you are confusing "purists" with "people who are all dead"

That 5th day is important to the make up of the test imo. Four days will just turn it into a basic how much can we score in a day format. That 5th day can change a good test, its when the real battlers come through, and the chokers/pussies get found out. It makes it an actual test. The pshycological difference the loss of a day makes is significant i reckon. None of the truly great test matches have finished on the 4th day. Ever.

Heh - that's because it's not the last day!? If (and probably when) the 4th day becomes the last day the same things will happen on that day! As I said, as long as we don't lose actual overs or playing time out of the format, I'll stay happy.



gc.

i dont reckon it will be as tense. Theres just something too simplistic about 4 days 4 innings imo.

Two of the greatest Ashes tests of all time:

http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/62468.html

http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/62469.html

The second one is probably the best Ashes test of all time - "We'll get em in singles". And they only lasted 3 days

hehe knew someone wal call that out They were 3 day tests though, so of course they finished on the third day. I think they were the first of the limited time tests?

Haha and also look @ how many overs they bowled in 3 days!!