'I have no doubt in future the Test league will be based on four days'
From suggestions to extend sessions of play by ten minutes, to pleas to leave the experimenting with other formats, here are current and former players' thoughts on four-day Test cricket
ESPNcricinfo staff
16-Oct-2017
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From suggestions to extend sessions of play by ten minutes, to pleas to leave the experimenting with other formats, here are current and former players' thoughts on four-day Test cricket.
Heath Streak: How about 97 overs a day?
The Zimbabwe coach spoke to the Daily Observer - his team will be playing the first official four-day Test, from Boxing Day against South Africa. He said: "I am a fan of four-day Tests. I would recommend an extra 10 minutes of play in every session of play. This will bring an extra half hour on all four days. The extra 30 minutes of play can bring seven overs more on each day of the Test, and total of 97 overs [versus the current 90 overs per day] will bring excitement to the game. This extra time will be able to bring results to the game and it will be good for the game."
The Zimbabwe coach spoke to the Daily Observer - his team will be playing the first official four-day Test, from Boxing Day against South Africa. He said: "I am a fan of four-day Tests. I would recommend an extra 10 minutes of play in every session of play. This will bring an extra half hour on all four days. The extra 30 minutes of play can bring seven overs more on each day of the Test, and total of 97 overs [versus the current 90 overs per day] will bring excitement to the game. This extra time will be able to bring results to the game and it will be good for the game."
Dean Elgar: Don't mess with Test cricket
When the four-day game against Zimbabwe was announced, the South Africa Test opener had some strong words for the whole idea: "I'm a five-day Test specialist, and it must stay that way in my opinion. I don't think you should tinker with something that's not broken. If you go and play around the world, Test cricket is followed quite well. If you play in Australia, if you play in England, even if you play in South Africa against the relatively big nations you still get very good crowds. There are other formats that are being experimented with. I don't see why Test cricket should suffer. I am purist when it comes to that. Hopefully the game can have longevity in the five-day format."
When the four-day game against Zimbabwe was announced, the South Africa Test opener had some strong words for the whole idea: "I'm a five-day Test specialist, and it must stay that way in my opinion. I don't think you should tinker with something that's not broken. If you go and play around the world, Test cricket is followed quite well. If you play in Australia, if you play in England, even if you play in South Africa against the relatively big nations you still get very good crowds. There are other formats that are being experimented with. I don't see why Test cricket should suffer. I am purist when it comes to that. Hopefully the game can have longevity in the five-day format."
Michael Vaughan: Money is lost on empty fifth days
The former England captain in his column in the Daily Telegraph spoke of the difficulties five days bring: "I like the idea of trialling four-day cricket and I have no doubt in the future the [Test] league will be based on four days. The average Test match lasts for 331 overs. Yes, we still have great fifth days. We have had drama on the last day in recent years, particularly at Headingley this summer when West Indies beat England, but the majority of matches finish inside four days. Teams will have to play four-day cricket a bit differently. They might have to declare and set a game up if it rains. You do that in four-day first-class cricket already. I can understand those that say Test cricket is the greatest format because it is the only level of the game when you play over five days. It requires different skills but the bigger picture is scheduling and the amount of money lost on the fifth day when grounds are empty. The powers that be keep telling me that they lose money on the last day. Make that public then people might understand a little bit more."
The former England captain in his column in the Daily Telegraph spoke of the difficulties five days bring: "I like the idea of trialling four-day cricket and I have no doubt in the future the [Test] league will be based on four days. The average Test match lasts for 331 overs. Yes, we still have great fifth days. We have had drama on the last day in recent years, particularly at Headingley this summer when West Indies beat England, but the majority of matches finish inside four days. Teams will have to play four-day cricket a bit differently. They might have to declare and set a game up if it rains. You do that in four-day first-class cricket already. I can understand those that say Test cricket is the greatest format because it is the only level of the game when you play over five days. It requires different skills but the bigger picture is scheduling and the amount of money lost on the fifth day when grounds are empty. The powers that be keep telling me that they lose money on the last day. Make that public then people might understand a little bit more."
Kane Williamson: The game comes first
The New Zealand captain admitted to sitting on the fence in the matter: "Speaking on the four-day, five-day thing, I guess four-day first-class cricket is not new to anybody. I think everyone in world cricket plays four-day first-class cricket, so time will tell to see what evolves in that area, but the Test games with five days is still fairly effective. We are seeing so many results these days as well and the brand of cricket is certainly improving, but I don't really have a strong view either way just yet. I think whatever way we go, it is important that it does benefit the game."
The New Zealand captain admitted to sitting on the fence in the matter: "Speaking on the four-day, five-day thing, I guess four-day first-class cricket is not new to anybody. I think everyone in world cricket plays four-day first-class cricket, so time will tell to see what evolves in that area, but the Test games with five days is still fairly effective. We are seeing so many results these days as well and the brand of cricket is certainly improving, but I don't really have a strong view either way just yet. I think whatever way we go, it is important that it does benefit the game."
Darren Lehmann: Five-day cricket might kill off some members
The Australia coach in an ABC interview: "I certainly want to see it trialled. I certainly think it has got to be done. I am a traditionalist, I love the five days. And, as a coach, I love the five days - if you do finish it in four they can't put in another game, you get a day off, they can't schedule any more tournaments, so that's the plus with that and the traditions and all that that goes with five days... [Also five-day Tests] don't get affected by weather as much etc, but the way the game is going, the world game, I don't think we will have certain boards around if we do not move to four-day cricket for certain teams. The cost of running a fifth day is huge in some countries. Australia is not too bad and we have a pretty good cricket programme, so we could probably get away with it. England probably could, India probably could. But there are other countries which will struggle financially if they keep going down the same path."
The Australia coach in an ABC interview: "I certainly want to see it trialled. I certainly think it has got to be done. I am a traditionalist, I love the five days. And, as a coach, I love the five days - if you do finish it in four they can't put in another game, you get a day off, they can't schedule any more tournaments, so that's the plus with that and the traditions and all that that goes with five days... [Also five-day Tests] don't get affected by weather as much etc, but the way the game is going, the world game, I don't think we will have certain boards around if we do not move to four-day cricket for certain teams. The cost of running a fifth day is huge in some countries. Australia is not too bad and we have a pretty good cricket programme, so we could probably get away with it. England probably could, India probably could. But there are other countries which will struggle financially if they keep going down the same path."
Faf du Plessis: The magic is in the long, hard toil
Following his side's Potchefstroom Test against Bangladesh, which they won 84 minutes into the final morning, here's the South Africa captain: "I am a fan of five-day Test cricket. I believe the great Test matches have gone to the last hour of the last day on day five. That's what is so special about Test cricket. For five days you have to graft it out. Bowlers have to bowl a lot more and batters have to construct much bigger innings. A day five was needed today [in Potchefstroom]. If it was a rain off yesterday it would have been very disappointing, so I am a fan of [having a fifth day]."
Following his side's Potchefstroom Test against Bangladesh, which they won 84 minutes into the final morning, here's the South Africa captain: "I am a fan of five-day Test cricket. I believe the great Test matches have gone to the last hour of the last day on day five. That's what is so special about Test cricket. For five days you have to graft it out. Bowlers have to bowl a lot more and batters have to construct much bigger innings. A day five was needed today [in Potchefstroom]. If it was a rain off yesterday it would have been very disappointing, so I am a fan of [having a fifth day]."