Jonty Rhodes has become the latest to join the bandwagon of cricketers who have opposed the idea of four-day Test.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is mulling over trimming Tests to four days from five for the 2023-2031 World Test Championship cycle. The idea behind this thought process is to free up the calendar to accommodate more commercially lucrative white-ball cricket.
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Speaking to TOI, the former South Africa cricketer said: "Test cricket for me is five days. We've just had an incredible Test in South Africa against England with a fabulous last session win for the visitors on the fifth day. Such matches don't happen often but Test cricket is what it is. There have been many changes within the game from Test cricket to 50 overs, the laws and then the introduction of T20. I still think there's such a huge support among players that 99% of them want to play five-day cricket. So, for me, Test cricket is for five days. I don't think it (Four-day Tests) should even be up for discussion."
Sharing his two cents on the commercial bit, Rhodes, who has played 52 Tests for his country, said the economics of cricket has to be focused on limited-overs format.
"It's obviously a business decision. It's from a solely business point of view about cricket, it's not about inconsequential days, television coverage, tickets sold or Tests not lasting the duration. Test cricket is a real test of skill, mental attrition and ability, it has its place in the game. Don't mess with it. When we talk about the business side of cricket it is T20 and that should be the focus of business, let five-day cricket be for five days."
While the four-day Test is at the proposal stage, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have said they will support the idea after 2023 while Cricket Australia (CA) are to give serious consideration to the plan.
Even though Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are yet to make their position clear, skipper Virat Kohli and head coach Ravi Shastri had strongly opposed the idea.
Moreover, cricket legends such as Sachin Tendulkar, Glenn McGrath, Ricky Ponting among others have also opposed the proposal and thus ICC may find it difficult to implement it.
The ICC cricket committee is set to discuss the four-day Test proposal in the next round of the ICC meetings, slated to be held in Dubai from March 27-31.
