Author(s): Sachin Prakash and Dr. Sandeep Bhalla

Abstract:
The concept of Test cricket came from First-Class matches, which were played in the 18th century. In the 19th century, it was James Lillywhite, who led England to tour Australia for a two-match series. The first official Test was played from March 15 in 1877. The first-ever Test was played with four balls per over. While it was a timeless match, it got over within four days. The first notable change in the format came in 1889 when the over was increased to a five-ball, followed by the regular six-ball over in 1900. While the first 100 Tests were played as timeless matches, it was since 1950 when four-day and five-day Tests were introduced. The Test Rankings was introduced in 2003, while 2019 saw the introduction of the World Test Championship. Traditionally, Test cricket has been played using the red ball, as it is easier to spot during the day. The most revolutionary change in Test cricket has been the introduction of Day-Night Tests. Since 2015, a total of 11 such Tests have been played, which three more scheduled. The specialty of these Tests is that they can be played under light and the pink ball is used instead of red, since the former is more visible under the night sky. The latest revolutionary introduction has been the ICC World Test Championship. It was introduced to give Test cricket a similar identity like ODIs and T20Is, which have World Cups of their own. The tournament would be played over two years, involving top teams. The tournament would also include Day-Night Tests, while the player jerseys have their names printed on the back, unlike previously. As of now, it looks like Day-Night Tests are likely to be the future of the format, as it would help in bringing back the viewership, which is dwindling in today's busy life. Also, the World Test Championship would make players fight for something in the format. As for the next change, curtailing the game to four days is still in works.

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