What is Four Day Test Match? Why Red Ball Cricket is being Reconsidered in Modern Era?

Test cricket is about to witness a massive change in its century-long history. On May 22, 2025, Zimbabwe will play against England in a four-day Test match. This will be the first Test of their series and Zimbabwe’s second-ever four-day Test. More importantly, it may signal a change in how Test cricket is played in the future.
Traditionally, Test matches are played over five days. Each team gets two innings to bat and bowl. Every day, 90 overs are allowed. But recently, there has been more talk about using four days instead of five. The aim is to keep the heart of Test cricket alive, but make it more suitable for today’s fast-paced world.

Why Are Four Day Test Matches Being Discussed?

There are many reasons why cricket officials are thinking about four day Test match. One main reason is that most Test matches now finish before five full days. In 2024, there were 52 Test matches played around the world. Out of those, 49 matches produced results. That means only three matches were drawn. One was abandoned because no play was possible, and the other two were badly affected by rain.
The average Test match in 2024 lasted about 268 overs. That’s around three full days of cricket. This shows that matches are ending faster than before. The modern style of playing aggressively, plus strict rules on over rates, are making matches finish quicker. Another reason is the points system in the ICC World Test Championship. A win gives 12 points. A draw gives only 4. Because of this, teams now aim to win rather than draw. They make pitches that help bowlers and produce results quickly.

So again, five days are not always needed. Many people think that four day Tests are new. But they are actually part of cricket’s past. In the early years of Test cricket, matches had different time limits. Some were played over three or four days. Some even lasted six days. And some had no time limit at all; these were called “Timeless Tests.” It was only in 1979 that five-day Tests became the regular format.

Before that, cricket had many different styles and lengths. The last official four-day Test before modern times was played in 1973 between New Zealand and Pakistan. In 2017, the ICC brought back the idea in a Test between South Africa and Zimbabwe. That match ended in just two days, but it showed that the ICC was ready to test new formats again.

The Financial Side of Test Cricket

Running a five-day Test is expensive. Boards must pay for stadium staff, security, broadcasting, and many other things. For smaller cricketing countries like Zimbabwe, these costs can be very high. If a match ends in three or four days, the extra cost of a fifth day is wasted. By making Tests four days long, boards can save money. They also get more control over the schedule. Since players need at least three days of rest between Tests, shorter matches make it easier to plan more games. This means more cricket, more ticket sales, and more broadcast revenue.
Broadcasters also prefer four-day games. It helps them plan weekend matches better. If a match starts on a Thursday, it will end on a Sunday. That’s great for fans who are free on weekends and boosts TV ratings. Some fans love the idea of four-day Tests. They feel shorter matches are easier to follow. In today’s world, people have less time and shorter attention spans. Many young fans enjoy formats like T20 or ODI cricket. Four day Tests could act as a middle ground between fast T20s and long five-day Tests.
If matches are shorter, more people might watch from start to finish. More fans in the stadiums and watching on TV will help keep Test cricket alive. Also, regular schedules make it easier for fans to plan. If every Test starts on a Thursday and ends on a Sunday, and the next one starts the following Thursday, it’s easier to follow a series. However, not everyone is happy with this idea. Some cricket fans and former players think four-day Tests will spoil the tradition. They believe that five days test players fully, mentally, and physically. Cutting it short, they say, makes it less of a challenge.
Test cricket is called the “ultimate test” for a reason. It’s meant to be tough. A bowler has to work hard to get 20 wickets. A batter has to stay focused for hours. Critics fear that four-day Tests might lead to rushed games and forced results. However, this criticism doesn’t always consider history. The idea of five days being the only “true” format is actually quite recent in cricket’s long history.

What Could the Future Look Like?

If the four-day format becomes more common, we may see big changes in how Test series are planned. Shorter matches could mean shorter tours. That’s good for players who already have busy schedules with league cricket and international games. Four day Tests may also help more teams play Test cricket. Smaller cricket boards can afford to host matches if they cost less. That could mean more Test matches for teams like Ireland, Afghanistan, or Zimbabwe.
Some fans and experts believe that four-day Tests should be used only in matches between lower-ranked teams or in less high-stakes series. The traditional five-day format could still be kept for top rivalries like the Ashes or the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The upcoming Test between Zimbabwe and England is more than just another match. It is a test for the four-day format itself. If the match is exciting and ends with a result, it could push the ICC to approve more four-day Tests.
Zimbabwe has played only one four-day Test before. England has never played one. This match could be historic for both teams, and for Test cricket itself. Fans, players, and officials will be watching closely. The outcome may not just decide the series but also influence the future of the sport.