16

Oct

Fourth Format  : One-Day  Test Cricket On The Cards

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Prabhjot Singh

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Toroto, Canada | Friday | 17 October 2025

Life seems to have come full circle for traditional Test cricket. Once known for gradually expanding its playtime from three to five days, the game is now witnessing a return to brevity — a new one-day Test match with a maximum of 80 overs.

The revolutionary Test Twenty format introduces a two-innings system, with each team batting twice for 20 overs per innings. Scores are carried forward, keeping alive the essence of Test cricket — strategy, patience, and endurance — while packaging it into a fast-paced, single-day spectacle. The result can be a win, loss, tie, or draw, ensuring the full range of cricket’s drama and unpredictability remains intact.

“This is not another league; it’s a living tribute to the spirit of cricket,” says Gaurav Bahirvani, Executive Chairman of the One One Six Network and the architect of the new format. “We’re preserving the game’s legacy while shaping its future. Test Twenty reignites the emotion, artistry, and endurance of Test cricket — all within a single day.”

A Format Between Tradition and Speed

Cricket’s journey toward instant formats began with the 60-over One Day Internationals, which later gave way to the explosive T20 model. Innovators then pushed further, experimenting with the 10-over (T10) format. Now, with cricket’s return to the Olympic Games, Bahirvani’s Test Twenty arrives as a timely hybrid — not as long as Tests, not as brief as T20s — a “middle form” that could appeal to fans who have lost patience for five-day marathons.

A statement by the new format’s founders describes it as “a bold evolution that fuses the depth of Test cricket with the energy of T20, built to discover and celebrate the next generation of cricketing royalty.”

 

Article at a Glance
Test cricket is undergoing a major transformation with the introduction of Test Twenty, a one-day, 80-over format that retains the traditional two-innings structure. Each team plays 20 overs twice, carrying forward scores to preserve strategy, resilience, and drama — hallmarks of Test cricket. Designed as a bridge between classic Tests and modern T20s, this format aims to revive interest among fans who find five-day matches too long.
Created by Gaurav Bahirvani, and supported by legends like AB de Villiers, Clive Lloyd, Matthew Hayden, and Harbhajan Singh, Test Twenty is described as a tribute to the sport’s heritage infused with modern energy. Positioned as a youth-driven global movement, it promises mentorship, innovation, and a platform for emerging talent. While it may spark debate among purists and the ICC, its creators believe it could become cricket’s most balanced evolution yet.

The Minds Behind the Movement

Backing Bahirvani are some of the game’s greatest names — AB de Villiers, Sir Clive Lloyd, Matthew Hayden, and Harbhajan Singh — who form the Test Twenty Advisory Board. Their collective goal is to evolve cricket responsibly, without losing its essence.

De Villiers, known for his creativity and innovation, calls the new format “innovation with intent.”

“It honours the traditions of the game while embracing the possibilities of the future. It gives young players a new dream to chase and fans a new story to follow,” he says.

For Sir Clive Lloyd, the first-ever World Cup-winning captain, Test Twenty is a revival of lost cricketing artistry. “The game has always adapted, but never this thoughtfully. Test Twenty brings back the rhythm of the sport while infusing it with modern energy,” he notes.

Matthew Hayden, the former Australian opener, sees it as “cricket’s bridge between eras.” “As a player and a parent, I see this as a format that carries the wisdom of the old world into the fire of the new,” he says. Hayden envisions Test Twenty not just as a competition but as a mentorship-driven movement to nurture young players’ skill and character.

For Harbhajan Singh, one of India’s finest match-winners, the format restores cricket’s emotional core. “Cricket needed a fresh heartbeat — something that connects today’s youth with the game’s original spirit. Test Twenty does exactly that.”

Cricket at the Crossroads

According to Bahirvani, cricket today stands at the brink of its “most defining evolution.” For decades, the game inspired millions but lacked a unified global platform for young talent. Test Twenty aims to change that — a youth-first global movement designed to discover and celebrate emerging players worldwide, blending tradition with the rhythm of the modern age.

Supporting Bahirvani operationally is Michael Fordham, former CEO of the Rajasthan Royals IPL franchise, who joins as Chief Operating Officer. Fordham brings decades of experience in building and commercialising international cricket platforms.

The introduction of the new format is expected to spark debate within the International Cricket Council (ICC) and among cricket purists. Yet, its creators insist that Test Twenty is not a commercial gimmick but a considered reinvention.

The Four Pillars of the Fourth Format

At its unveiling, Bahirvani introduced what he called “The Four Pillars of Test Twenty” — the guiding principles that mark the dawn of cricket’s Fourth Format. While the details remain under wraps, they are said to combine heritage with innovation, wisdom with technology, and legacy with youth.

United by belief and purpose, Bahirvani and his team of cricketing icons are reimagining the sport for a new generation. Whether Test Twenty becomes a global phenomenon or just another experimental chapter in cricket’s long history remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the game has never stopped evolving — and now, it may have found its most balanced form yet. ( Prabhjot Singh is a senior journalist with long years in The Tribune, Chandigarh. A big name in sports journalism, he is now  based in Taranto and  spends his time between Canada and India)

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