New format unlocked in Cricket - the Test Twenty
The Sport of cricket has witnessed tremendous evolution from the time it started to the present-day cricket that we know. From being played in only the Test format (Five-day match), cricket has seen several other formats being invented to create popularity for the game. The shorter formats that are the 50-overs (One Day Internationals) and 20-overs (T20 Internationals) were introduced to move beyond the longer format and increase the global viewership. Though there are other formats like T10 as well but they are not played at the international level.
A lot of the modern fans also find the Test format boring and prefer watching the shorter formats which has led to empty stadiums during Test Matches. The T20 format has gained massive popularity in recent years due to lesser overs, played at breathtaking speed and involves big hits and thrilling chases. With T20 also being played at franchise level in countries, the shortest format is the most followed and crazed over which has led to decline in viewership of the longer formats. As a result, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is also cognizant to rule changes or new formats to make the game more exciting for the younger generations. Hence, the introduction of the latest format – Test Twenty.
Let’s take a look at what this format is all about, the expectations and the pros and cons of the Test Twenty.
Format
The Test Twenty format is an amalgamation of Test Cricket and T20. The match will have a total of 80 overs and have four innings like Test Cricket but an innings will have 20 overs and both teams will have the chance to bat twice. The match will be over in a day as opposed to Test Cricket that takes five days. Rules from both Test and T20 formats will be applied with a few adjustments required for the new format. The match can end in a win, a loss, a tie or a draw.
Ex-cricketers and legends Clive Lloyd, Harbhajan Singh, Mathew Hayden and AB De Villiers were part of the advisory board and took part in deciding the important details of the format.
The format has already been approved by the ICC and its first two editions will be held in India with the first edition to commence from January 2026. Post that, the format will be held all across the world. The participating teams will have a total of six franchises – three teams from India, one team each from London, Dubai and USA. Each participating team can field a squad of 16 players for the competition with 8 Indian players and 8 foreign players. The players for these teams will again go through an auction pool similar to what happens in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Expectations
This new format has been designed to specifically target the younger generation, mainly the teenagers (13-19 years) and to raise the popularity of the sport even further. The intent to create this new format is to let the youth connect with both formats and still find it energetic and thrilling.
Formats like this are being seen as the future of cricket as the longer formats are losing their popularity and viewership due to the growing lack of patience and busy lives. The ODI format has suffered the most as the frequency of the 50-over game is slowly declining with foreign tours mostly consisting of Test Series and T20 bilateral events. Even Test Match Series’ that are not played between the big countries have led to a loss of interest amongst a majority of the fans. Hence, the Test Twenty has been designed to provide the upcoming generations a glimpse into the oldest format, combined with the flashiness of the new.
Going forward, the Test Twenty will also see evolution or changes. Similar to what the NCAA in the USA has done for Basketball, Test Twenty will aim to create a talent pool without the bias of gender, background or geographical location and will give everyone equal opportunity to perform, excel and earn fame in cricket.
Pros and Cons
This is a very interesting format that will test the hitting skills, fitness and the bowling skills of the players. Since it will finish in a day, it’s short and easier to follow. Two innings for each team can give teams two opportunities, hence let’s say even if a batting collapse happens in the first innings, the teams can turn around the match in the second innings which is difficult in the T20 format.
For countries with a huge population and long history of cricket, it isn’t easy to pursue cricket professionally and get selected for the domestic or national teams. It was through IPL that young unknown Indian players could get opportunities to perform with top global talent and provided them a decent source of income. The Test Twenty is another competition that can expose world class talent to the elite level of sports and like IPL some could also shine and find a selection route to their national teams as well.
While it’s important to evolve with the times, it’s also important to retain the beauty of the old. As a cricket purist, I would not like to see Test cricket being replaced with the Test Twenty. The beauty of the longest format lies in the challenge, the focus and the skill that is required to play for that long. The level of skill required for Test Cricket is second to none. A batter or bowler’s true quality can only be judged by consistent performances in the longest format and even though it can be a slow watch at times, those who have watched Test Cricket evolve in recent years can vouch that it can also be as thrilling to watch as a high-scoring T20 game. The pressure, the focus and persistence required on a 5th day to win a Test match with fatigue kicking in is unmatchable.
If the Test Twenty is a future replacement of the five-day format, it would also signify the end of high-level skills, mental toughness, focus and consistency in cricket as to this day, players that have performed in the Test format are seen as the pinnacle of batsmanship and bowling. If Test Cricket is lost, so will such kind of players and they will be replaced by players who can improvise and use power to hit the ball out of the park but technicality will be lost. Also, high-quality test bowling skills will suffer in the shorter format as pitches will be made favouring the batters more often and aiming to achieve high score targets and chases.
From a new generation fans’ perspective, of course, the Test Twenty format could be an exciting watch that will take less time and due to the 20-over format, the game will be played at a fast pace, leading to T20 kind of high score chases that too twice rather than once. Hence, it could be a format, the younger fans could certainly come to appreciate and follow.
Since this is just the beginning and we don’t know what lies in store for the Test Twenty format, it’s hard to predict what would come off the longer formats like Test or ODI cricket in case it is successful. We would only know more after the first edition concludes early next year.
However, as a cricket fan who has watched two teams battle it out in red ball cricket over five days of tough cricket, we would hope that both formats can get their fair share of popularity and viewership and that the birth of a new format doesn’t lead to the demise of the other!
