Regarding the Ronay article also being discussed on the South Africa v England thread, the only arguments in favour of 4 day Tests are commercial; all the arguments about the actual cricket favour staying with five days. If we switch to four, we have to maintain different record books on run chases, draws, etc, for the two formats because they'd be comparing apples and oranges, just as you can't meaningfully compare ODI records from today with those of the 1970s-80s ODI greats.
You'd even have to pick different players. Sibley suddenly looks unsuitable for 4 days despite his heroics over 5. Spinners become redundant as there is no such thing as a 5th day pitch.
You'd even have to pick different players. Sibley suddenly looks unsuitable for 4 days despite his heroics over 5. Spinners become redundant as there is no such thing as a 5th day pitch.
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