Why do they play 4 test matches in a series? Why not 3 or 5? How will the series winner be decided if each team wins two tests?

NEGI RK Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Why do they play 4 test matches in a series? Why not 3 or 5? How will the series winner be decided if each team wins two tests?

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Thanks for A2A Gopalkrishna Vishwanath sir..

Usually the number of matches in a test series are decided upon various factor. Not many teams in current international level play more than 3 test matches. Only few countries like England, Australia play up to 5 test matches (Ashes). Rest of the teams including India used to prefer 3 or maximum 4 matches only. These are decided by the respective Cricket boards of each nation and they will consider the revenue they might get based on the matches, player’s workload and also they will plan on other factors like IPL schedule, Asia cup etc., Once they confirm this, ICC might approve this.

Boards like SL, NZ usually prefer 2 or 3 matches only in a series so that their players do not become tired due to workload. Previously before pre t20 era each nation had ODI, test and respective national trophies. Post the entry of t20, teams now are planning for conducting a complete tournament consisting of T20s, ODIs & Test.

Test Cricket will always be the best format, but still Boards prefer to have white ball matches and hence Red ball is been reduced to 3 or 4. Also board might consider and plan the schedule if any major ICC tournament are coming that year, they will plan for that format to have more matches and reduce other 2. This year we have T20 WC hence India will play many T20 matches rather than test and ODI. That was the reason to have 4 test matches with England in Feb because they initially planned for 5 matches and 3 T20, now they have made it as 5T20s and 4 test matches.

Most of the teams prefer to play 3 only, but big teams like Eng, Aus will be fine if they conduct 5 matches also. Now post Covid teams are pushed to follow, bio-bubble and the tournament will go for nearly 60–75 days, hence we can see only 3 or even 2 matches in future. Also some matches are getting over by 3 or max 4th day, so only ICC is planning to have a 4 day test match also if every board agrees they might have it regularly so that time will be saved.

Regarding Series winner, usually if both teams win 2 matches, cup will be shared between them and the team which won that trophy last time will be retaining the cup.

Eg: Last time Border Gavaskar trophy winner is India, hence if India draws the series with Australia this time in 2020/2021, We will be retaining the cup with us. This will be the same formula applied to Ashes series also.

For other teams also they follow the same rule & if there was no series in the past, Trophy will be shared and both will be the winners.

Test Cricket will always be the best format no matter how many T20s or T20 leagues they conduct. The 5th day tension, seriousness in an important test match cannot be matched with anything. Recent Nz v Pak 5th day was such a treat to watch, also who can forget the Ben Stokes greatest knock in last Ashes.