Irfan Pathan Feels That Four-Day Test Is The Way To Go Forward

In the coming years, the most ancient form of the game may go through yet another change. During the previous decade, we saw the first-ever day and night Test match being played and the longest version could have one day getting deducted from it. And former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan is among the few to endorse four-day Tests as the International Cricket Council (ICC) explores the idea.

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The Baroda all-rounder’s backing for a new version of red-ball cricket comes after various stalwarts of the game have raised concerns against it. The likes of Ricky Ponting, Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, Nathan Lyon, and Glenn McGrath have refused to tinker with the format. Yet, the apex body of international cricket is exploring the idea and may blood it in the 2023 ICC World Test Championship.

The 35-year old, who hung up his boots from the international cricket, however, firmly believes that four-day Tests must be included moving forward, at least for two years. Pathan stated that he has been saying the same for some years now and when results are there to be seen in Ranji Trophy, the same can be implemented for international fixtures. He further conceded that if four day Tests are executed, every game will become result-oriented and hence he fully supports the idea.

“I have been saying that for a few years now that four-day Tests should be there. I believe at least for a couple of years that’s it is the way to go forward. We play four-day cricket in Ranji Trophy, we get results. So why not Test matches? Obviously, nowadays results come regularly but if there are four-day Tests, every game will be result-oriented….I totally, totally agree with four-day Test matches.” Pathan said as quoted by Times of India

Sachin Tendulkar feels that the advantage of spinners may be robbed of:

Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar believes that in case of four-day Tests, the upper hand a spinner gets could be taken away. He stated that the scuffed ball along with the cracks created on a day five wicket, which is currently advantageous to the spinners, would be snatched away and it is not a fair call.

“Spinners look forward to bowling with the scuffed ball, taking advantage of the day five of the roughs created on the wicket. All that is a part of Test cricket. Is it fair to take that advantage away from the spinners.” Tendulkar said.

Former Indian opening batsman Gautam Gambhir also rejected the proposal and labelled it as a “ridiculous idea” since he feels that an amendment to the format would lead to more matches ending in a draw.

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