Smith, Warner say no to four-day Tests

Australia coach Darren Lehmann appreciates the need to trial the concept of four-day Test matches but the initiative has little support from senior players, most conspicuously captain Steve Smith and his deputy David Warner.

The International Cricket Council recently gave its approval to four-day Test matches being arranged and played bilaterally while also underscoring that its proposed nine-team Test world championship – to begin in 2019 – would enshrine the traditional format played over five days.

The ICC agreed that four-day Tests could be scheduled by consenting nations up until the middle of 2019, when the next World Cup will be held in the UK and the Test championship is due to begin.

Shortly after that announcement from the ICC board meeting in Auckland earlier this month, Cricket South Africa revealed they would host a four-day Test match against neighbours Zimbabwe at the end of this year.

When asked earlier this month about Cricket Australia's stance on the question of four-day Tests, CA Chief Executive James Sutherland expressed support for the trial period.

But he indicated it was unlikely that Australia's upcoming Test commitments – all of which are scheduled across five days – would include a four-day fixture.

"We were supportive of the trial … I think it's about learning, it's about innovation, it's about understanding whether these sorts of things can work," Sutherland said.

"Our Test schedule over the next couple of years before the Test Championship starts has us playing against England this summer, South Africa, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka.

"I don't foresee us playing any four-day Test cricket in that window.

"But that's not to say we don't support the trial.

"We'll certainly be interested observers."

While Sutherland publicly confirmed that Australia currently has no plans to stage any shortened versions of Test cricket, the subject came up for debate at a conference that preceded this week's CA Annual General Meeting in Brisbane.

"Fascinating discussion at CA/State CEOs conference re possibility of 4 day Test cricket," Cricket New South Wales Chief Executive Andrew Jones tweeted on Monday.

"Clearly we should try it."

In subsequent social media dialogue, Jones pointed out that condensing a Test to a Thursday-Sunday window provided a preferable structure for "fans, players, broadcasters, venues and schedulers".

However, he also noted that any proposed shift was unlikely to win the backing of players who historically supported retention of the status quo and cited that sentiment residing among a bulk of Australia players "with intro of T20 and D/N (day-night) Tests".

That view was reflected by Smith and Warner in recent interviews with cricket.com.au when the Australia Test leadership duo both expressed their wish that the current five-day structure be retained across all Test cricket.

"I have no interest in four-day cricket," Warner said when asked about the ICC's decision to offer some flexibility to Test match scheduling.

"You have so many variables in Test match cricket – you've got weather, some games might be only getting three days but it just takes one day to have that weather come in and it can ruin it.

"Then on the flipside, it's a Test.

"It's the longevity, being out there on your legs, it's grit, determination, those things come to my mind to actually want to keep playing five-day cricket.

"Like a timeless Test (a feature of Test cricket in the 1920s and 30s), it's basically survival of the fittest."

Smith was slightly less strident in his opposition, but no more enthusiastic to see the reduction in playing days even if (as mooted) the hours and over requirements of each of the four days is extended to reduce disparity with the traditional format.

"Personally, I like five (days) so I would like to keep it at five," Smith told cricket.com.au.

"Just the traditional way that Test cricket has been played, I think it's great when you get into that fifth day and enter that last hour, I think it's a really cool part of the game."

Other players have expressed their reservations about any potential shift away from five-day Tests, with Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc bluntly tweeting last month "Would be a disgrace if changed to 4 days".

But Lehmann, who has previously indicated he understands the reasons underpinning the possible shift in Test scheduling, concedes he is torn between the need to preserve Test cricket's enduring traditions and to ensure it remains healthy and relevant for contemporary fans.

"It's important that we still have the traditions in the game, but the game is dictating that four-day Test matches have to be trialled to see how it goes," he said.

"To free up (the playing) calendar, free up time, (play) less cricket, (more) quality cricket, all those scenarios.

"Financial costs as well – running a fifth day for some (international cricket) boards that are struggling (has a cost impact), so I think we've got to have a look at it definitely.

"We've got to find out, got to give it a go.

"If I'm talking purely as a coach, I would probably stay at five days because then … if you are finishing in four days or three days, you get an extra day off.

"The players get some rest and regeneration for the next game, so for me I would still be happy to keep five days but I think for the world game we need to trial four days."