ICC has finally given the green signal to conduct four–day Tests on a trial basis, as a Boxing Dat Test, will be played between South Africa and Zimbabwe during December 26–29.
The international cricket board has decided to extend the playing hours and enforcing a high penalty for slow over-rate as now the teams will bowl 100 overs a day, instead of 90 overs.
Since January 2014, 162 Tests has been played and out of which, 112 got over in under 400 overs. Reduction in days will also result in more Tests in a series and less broadcasting cost. If a Test starts on Thursday, the weekend coinciding with the final two days of the Test.
In recent time, India Tests have been mostly the four-day affairs. However, a closer look at the scorecards does throw up some very thrilling matches that have gone into the fifth day.
Here are some thrilling matches:
India vs South Africa, Wanderers (2013)
South Africa needed 458 to win from a little more than 120 overs left. However, against a tiring and a contented Indian bowling attack, Faf Du Plessis, and AB De Villiers smashed centuries on the final day. At one stage, the scenario was such that the duo might have taken South Africa home. Tragically, they were 8 runs short of the target, and still had three wickets in hand, when umpires decided to call off play. The match ended in a draw, but the home side surely gave Dhoni and his men, some hours of worried.
India vs England, Lord’s (2014)
England needed 319 to win with more than 4 sessions to go. They started off rather provisionally of the hosts, but with the help of Joe Root, finished Day 4 at 4/105. However, Ishant Sharma snapped five wickets on the final day to give India their lone win against England that summer.
India vs Australia, Adelaide Oval (2014)
When Australia declared at the end of the fourth day’s play, India required 348 from the on the final day. During the chase, India lost early wickets, but Murali Vijay and Virat Kohli added 185 runs in 50 overs to and wrecked havoc in the Australian team. After Vijay’s departure for 99, India lost the remaining seven wickets for 77 runs to hand Australia a thrilling 48-run win.
India vs England, Rajkot (2016)
England declared their second innings at 260/3 and the hosts needed to chase down 310 on the final day. On a lethal pitch, this would be a tricky chase. By the afternoon session, when India lost six wickets, England almost smelled their victory. But skipper Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja played anchored their innings well as the match ended in a draw.
Out of the 51 Tests that India have played in the last 5 years, 38 Tests were concluded within the period of 400 overs. They have won 28 Tests in this period, losing 11, while the remaining 12 have all ended as draws.
