ECB proposes 4-day Tests and 40-over World Cups

The England test team after winning a series against India in 2014

The English Cricket board is planning to propose the idea of 4-day Tests and 40-over World Cups to the ICC. The basis of this bold idea seems to come from the new ECB chairman Colin Graves and chief exective Tom Harrison as they want to see the International format in relevance with the English domestic cricket.

The revelations come from ‘Strategy Conversation Summary’ submitted to espncricinfo. The document also includes the international schedule of the English players which has been shortened so that the players could be a part of the English Premier League (EPL). One of the aims listed as a strong prospect was imply the EPL as “a dominant T20 tournament,” which would be seen as a serious competitor to the IPL.

The ECB President and Present Representative of the ECB in ICC, Giles Clarke, is believed to be very influential and can persuade the ICC into thinking about the suggestions mentioned in the document.

English domestic Cricket already composes of a 40-over format, which is the root of the idea of a 40-over World Cup. This is believed to keep the English county cricket relevant with the International formats.

Tests have been of the 5-day format for the last 36 years. The only exception being a 6-day Test match played between India and West Indies. Also, the last time a 4-day Test match was played was in 1973 between New Zealand and Pakistan.

The ECB with these radical prospects about the game, have instilled questions in many minds about the formats and it wouldn’t be long before the others catch on to the idea. England is the next host of the 50-over World Cup in 2019.