MCC not in favour of four-day Tests

London, Jan 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) on Tuesday backed five-day Tests, saying it "should continue to be played over five days.

"MCC has noted the recent discussion regarding the future of test cricket and the ICC's desire to debate the introduction of four-day test cricket to replace the current five-day format in the World Test Championship from 2023," the statement from the MCC read.

"The MCC Cricket committee and MCC World Cricket committee have recently discussed the issue and although they can see some benefits that four-day Test cricket could bring, both committees believe that Test cricket should continue to be played over five days," it said.

India captain Virat Kohli has been among many cricketers who have objected to the ICC's proposed four-day Test format.

"I don't endorse that at all," Kohli had said in Guwahati before India's T20I series against Sri Lanka.

"D/N Test is the most that should be changed about Test cricket according to me. I am purely only talking about getting the numbers in and the entertainment. The intent otherwise won't be right. Then you'll speak of three-day Tests, where do you end? Then you will speak of Test cricket disappearing .. D/N Test is another step on commercialising Test cricket and creating excitement around it but it can't be tinkered with too much."

The ICC cricket committee is to discuss the idea of four-day Test matches, but it is set to get a red flag from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) too with coach Ravi Shastri also against it.

Source: IANS