ECB to support scrapping 5-day Tests

Five-day Test matches could become a thing of the past from 2023 after England supported calls to cut them by a day, according to Tuesday’s Daily Telegraph.

“We believe it could provide a sustainable solution to the complex scheduling needs and player workloads we face as a global sport,” an ECB spokesperson said.

“We’re definite proponents of the four-day Test concept, but cautiously so, as we understand it’s an emotive topic for players, fans and others who have concerns about challenging the heritage of Test cricket.”

Kevin Roberts, the chief executive of Cricket Australia, had said mandatory four-day Tests were “something that we have got to seriously consider”.

Four-day Tests have been sanctioned since 2017 by the sport’s global governing body the International Cricket Council (ICC), but only outside of their inaugural World Test Championship.