LONDON: The MCC has added its considerable heft in matters regarding rules of cricket to the growing chorus opposed to the possibility raised by the International Cricket Council (ICC) that Tests after 2023 could be cut to four days.
A statement issued Tuesday by the MCC on the subject reads: MCC has noted the recent discussion regarding the future of Test cricket and the ICC’s desire to debate the introduction of four-day Test cricket to replace the current five-day format in the World Test Championship from 2023.
“The MCC Cricket committee and MCC World Cricket committee have recently discussed the issue and although they can see some benefits that four-day Test cricket could bring, both committees believe that Test cricket should continue to be played over five days.”
MCC remains the guardian of the laws and spirit of cricket, while its world cricket committee is an influential independent panel of former and current players and umpires, which meets twice a year to discuss cricketing issues, BBC reports.
Test cricket has been standardised at five days since 1979, though in 2017 the ICC did permit for certain matches to be played over four days, such as England’s Test against Ireland at Lord’s last summer.
Established in 2006, the MCC World Cricket committee is an independent body, funded and administered by MCC and reports to the MCC committee.
Its members have all been involved in international cricket at an elite level.
The committee has a remit to act as an independent think tank, debating issues and making recommendations about the health and state of the game.
