In a significant move aimed at promoting inclusivity and flexibility in the game’s longest format, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is reportedly poised to introduce four-day Test matches for lower-ranked cricketing nations during the 2027–29 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. This development is seen as a response to scheduling constraints and the financial burden faced by smaller cricketing boards.

According to the foreign media, discussions on the revised format were held during the recent WTC final at Lord’s, where ICC Chairman Jay Shah expressed his support for the idea. The proposal seeks to increase the number of Tests for smaller nations by allowing them to host three-match series within tighter timeframes. Under this model, a three-Test series could be completed in under three weeks, an appealing prospect for boards grappling with time and budget limitations.

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Traditional five-day Tests, however, will remain intact for marquee series involving cricketing powerhouses such as India, Australia, Pakistan and England. Iconic contests like the Ashes, Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and the newly minted Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy will continue to be played over five days, preserving the historic stature and intensity of these rivalries.

Many cricketing nations, including Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the West Indies, have welcomed the idea, viewing it as a path to greater participation in the Test arena. For example, Sri Lanka is scheduled to play just four Tests throughout 2025, while South Africa, despite winning the recent WTC final, will not host a Boxing Day Test this year, highlighting the growing imbalance in Test cricket scheduling.