Sydney: ICC’s proposal to introduce four-day Tests has met with stiff opposition from leading Australia spinner Nathan Lyon, who termed it “ridiculous” while chief coach Justin Langer is also not in favour of tinkering with the traditional format.
Lyon’s sharp statement comes just days after Australia CEO Kevin Roberts said that their board is interested in four-day Tests and they could play one against Afghanistan later this year.
“I’m totally against it and I hope ICC aren’t even considering it,” Lyon said on The Unplayable Podcast.
“You look at all the big games around the world and some of the best Test matches I’ve been part of, they go down to the last day,” he added.
Keen to ease out a crammed calendar, the International Cricket Council (ICC) wants four-day Tests from 2023 as part of World Test Championship.
Langer during an interaction with reporters said that while the option can be looked at, from a personal viewpoint, he won’t like any changes.
“My preference — I’m a traditionalist and anyone who knows me, I don’t like to change too much — so I probably prefer five-day Test matches,” Langer said today in Sydney.
“But again, like with wickets and like with schedules, if four-day Test matches keep Test cricket alive, then it worth looking at. But I love five days only because I’m boring and don’t like to change much.”
Lyon on his part, gave example of the India versus Australia Test match in Adelaide in 2014 which was won by the hosts in final hour.
“You look at (Australia) against India at Adelaide in 2014, that went down to the last half-an-hour on Day Five. Then you look at Cape Town in 2014 as well, you look at that Test match where Ryan Harris bowled Morne Morkel with two overs to go, so that’s gone down to the last 10 minutes on a Day Five.
“I’m not a fan of four-day Test matches. I believe you’ll get so many more draws and Day Five is crucial,” he said.
Four-day Tests are comprised of four 98-over days (as opposed to five 90-over days) and 38 of the 43 result Test matches in Australia in the past 10 years have been completed inside the 392 overs of a four-day Test.
Lyon also spoke about the weather being a factor. “It’s a challenge,” Lyon said on five-day Tests. “You challenge yourself in different ways – physically and mentally.”
“It’s not just a walk in the park. Five-day Test matches, they are hard work especially if the conditions aren’t in your favour. You want to challenge yourself. I’m all against four-day Test matches.”
Test skipper Tim Paine and vice-captain Travis Head also support five-day Tests.
PTI