4 reasons why a 4-day Test may not be a feasible option
South Africa and Zimbabwe are all set to create history this boxing day by competing in a 4-day Test match at Port Elizabeth from 26th December, 2017 to 29th December, 2017.
Apart from the 4-day Test, there are other major overhauls to the traditions which has long been followed by South African cricket. Durban, which has been hosting a boxing day Test each year makes way for Port Elizabeth, which will host the first-ever 4-day Test.
Another interesting aspect of the 4 day Test scheduled between South Africa and Zimbabwe is that it will be a day night Test. Change of venue, change of time and reduction of the Test by a day will ensure that the Test will go down as an unique one.
So, is a 4 day Test really viable? Is there is a necessity to bring such an innovation to Test cricket?
#4 The art of surviving on a day 5 pitch defines a batsman
Test cricket will really lose its charm by reduction of a day. In Tests played in the sub-continent, the real test is surviving on a day 5 pitch with spinners in action and with men around the bat. The dying moments of the recently concluded Test between India and Sri Lanka at Kolkata is proof that day 5 is the most prominent day .
Another example is the recently concluded Adelaide Test between Australia and England when the match was evenly balanced going into day 5. Batting on a day 5 pitch is an art which makes the difference between winning and losing a Test. If the Adelaide Test was a 4 day affair, the excitement of the masses would have been greatly curtailed.