International Cricket Council (ICC) president Greg Barkley wants to see women’s Test matches span five days, but has questioned whether the longer format will form part of the women’s game’s future “landscape”. Five Women’s Tests in the last five years, all played over four days, ended in draws. England women’s captain Heather Knight has called for a five-day Test to allow more time for a positive result, as in men’s international red-ball cricket.
“Most people would say five days are needed,” Barkley told BBC Radio’s Test Match Special in an interview broadcast during the first men’s Test between England and New Zealand at Lord’s on Friday.
“Of course, if they’re going to play it, my personal view is that they should have five days to play it,” said the New Zealander.
Only England, Australia and India have played a Women’s Test since 2017, with the most recent red-ball international being a thrilling Ashes match in January, a thrilling draw.
However, England are scheduled to play South Africa over four days in June in what will be the Proteas women’s first Test since 2014.
The Ashes draw went on till the last ball, prompting many pundits to play more Women’s Tests.
But scheduling such matches can be costly and women cricketers get fewer opportunities to play longer format games at the domestic level than their male counterparts.
“If you look strategically at how cricket is progressing, there is no doubt that white-ball cricket is the way of the future,” Barkley said.
“This is the game that fans want. This is where broadcasters are putting their resources. This is what’s driving the money.”
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“To play Test cricket you have to have structures at the domestic level. They don’t really exist in any country at the moment. I really can’t see women’s Test cricket developing at any particular pace.
“It’s not like any country that likes to play Test cricket can’t do that. But I don’t think it’s part of the landscape to any real extent.”
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