The first ever four day test will occur this December when South Africa take on Zimbabwe in Port Elizabeth in a “traditional”  Boxing Day Test. The test against Zimbabwe will also be the first day night test to be held in South Africa.

This is mainly due to scheduling conflicts with the BCCI (Board for Control of Cricket in India) that will see the traditional New Year’s test moved to 5 January in Cape Town.

The 5-day test may not be under threat yet even though some test matches do end in less than four days. Proteas batsman, Dean Elgar, is a firm believer in a 5-day test match as he believes that the traditional format should not be changed.

“Something that isn’t broken should not be fixed. Cricket shouldn’t experiment on its purest form. I’m a five day specialist and I believe in the loner form of the game. Sometimes you need the full five days to decide a test. That is where true skills are applied,” said Elgar.

Elgar also explained that quality international teams will draw crowds irrespective of it being a five day test.

“No disrespect to the smaller test playing nations, but stadiums will not easily get filled unless it is a big series. This was proved when we played against England. The crowds pulled up to stadium to watch a quality contest.”