Last Updated on 6 months ago by Charbel Coorey
Test Twenty, set to be cricket’s newest format, has divided opinion on social media. The format fuses Test and T20 cricket, with four innings of 20 overs to be played out with a red ball like a Test match.
Some of the rules of Test Twenty include:
- Powerplay of four overs.
- Teams can enforce the follow on with a first innings lead of 75 or more.
- A maximum of five bowlers can bowl a maximum of eight overs across the entire match.
This format is expected to launch in January 2026 and is targeted at young cricketers, namely 13 to 19 year olds who can register at https://app.testtwenty.com/register. The first season will be held in India with three Indian city-based teams and three international teams, namely from Dubai, London and United States.
Indian sports entrepreneur Gaurav Bahirvani is the brainchild of Test Twenty. AB De Villiers, Clive Lloyd, Matthew Hayden and Harbhajan Singh part of the Advisory board. “When I was a boy in Pretoria, I hit a ball against a wall for hours hoping someone would notice. Back then, there was no global stage for young cricketers,” said AB de Villiers in a video posted on X (formerly Twitter).
“Today, that changes. The junior Test Twenty Championship is here. The world’s biggest youth scouting platform for 13 to 19 year olds. A brand new format, a brand new tournament,” he said.
Reactions to Test Twenty format: Does this idea have merit?
Opinions were split on the Test Twenty idea. Some fans enjoy the idea, while others question its role in developing talent.
“This “Test Twenty” format basically removes the strengths of the individual formats, and combines the weaknesses. Too long for a snack, too light for a meal,” wrote one fan on X (formerly Twitter).
“Prediction: only T20s and Test Twenty will live, Test Cricket and ODI will die. Because this is the natural evolution. At its core, what makes Test Cricket interesting and what’s keeping it alive is the 4 innings format,” wrote another.
Here are some of the reactions.
