Four-day Test cricket is a hot topic for discussion among the cricket fraternity ever since the International Cricket Council (ICC) has proposed the idea of trimming the traditional five-day game to a four-day affair in order to have more limited-overs ICC events and bring in more viewers to red-ball games.

Well, the cricket fraternity has been divided into two halves on the ICC’s latest concept with the cricket committee led by Anil Kumble will discuss the matter in the governing body’s next meeting to take place in Dubai from March 27-31.

Now, India spinner Kuldeep Yadav and Sri Lanka coach Mickey Arthur on Thursday (January 9) has joined the long list of cricketers who have opposed the idea of making Test matches a five-day affair.

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Arthur told the media, “Look, five-day Test cricket is the way to go. Test cricket challenges you mentally, physically and technically and a lot of time on the fifth day [a result comes]. We just witnessed a very good Test match (England versus South Africa) that finished on Day Five.”

He continued, “I know, we can talk about financial pressures and that type of stuff. I think the fabric of Test cricket should not be messed [up] with. You want wickets deteriorating on Day Five, you want [situations] where there is a lot of really good exciting draws.”

On the other hand, Kuldeep opined on the idea: “To be very honest, I would prefer five-day Test cricket. Test cricket is made for five days and I would not like to see any change in it. Something which is classic should be kept as it is.”

Noteworthy, the ICC plans to bring the change from the 2023-2031 World Test Championship cycle.

(With PTI Inputs)