Cricket Australia‘s CEO, Nick Hockley, has expressed concerns about switching to four-day Test matches. He worries that shorter games could become too predictable and easily disrupted by weather.
The increasing pace of Test matches in recent years has revived discussions about shortening them to four days. This is particularly relevant as final-day finishes are becoming less frequent in Australia.
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Recent data reveals that Test matches are concluding faster than at any time since the 1880s globally. The average game now lasts less than 300 overs.
In Australia, the last two summers have witnessed the fewest balls bowled per match since 1887-88, with only two Tests reaching the fifth day.
This trend poses a challenge for broadcasters and Cricket Australia. They face potential losses in gate receipts, catering revenue, and television viewership on days when play is lost.
Cricket Australia previously considered shorter Test matches. A four-day match against Afghanistan was scheduled, but the COVID-19 pandemic led to its cancellation.
Hockley is not a strong advocate for four-day Tests. He cautions that heavy rain, like the downpour at the Gabba on Saturday, could prematurely end a match.
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“There are pros and cons,” Hockley said on SEN on Sunday. “People have argued whether you could play Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday in subsequent weeks.”
“But we’ve got to be very, very careful because if you get to a position where there’s a bit of rain around or it’s a slower match.”
“Then you could get to a position where people are calling it’s going to be a draw really early on.”
Supporters of four-day Tests argue that it would allow for more three-match series. Currently, such series are rare, except for those involving Australia, India, and England.
However, there’s a concern that a higher percentage of first-class matches end in draws compared to Test matches. This is noteworthy because first-class matches are typically played over four days.
Hockley also highlighted that attrition plays a more significant role in some countries, such as Pakistan. Twelve out of eighteen Test matches have gone to the fifth day in Pakistan since cricket’s return to the country in 2019.
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“We need to be continuing looking at it, but I think we need to be cautious about making a reactive decision based on a narrow data set,” Hockley said.
“You’ll see trends in the way teams and players play the game, and you’ll see variations around the length of Test matches around the world.”
“Test cricket is a tradition, the ultimate test, and making sure that there’s ample time to really play out for the very best players in the world (is important).”
“It’s something I think the ICC and members should continue to look at, but any decision should be with a really kind of long-term horizon and data set in mind.”
Hockley’s remarks follow Pat Cummins’s endorsement of five-day Tests before the Gabba Test. “It’s a pretty good format … I always like five days,” Cummins said.
The historical data on average balls bowled per Test match worldwide shows fluctuations over the decades.
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