Former England captain Michael Vaughan has proposed reducing Test cricket to four days, arguing that the change would align with the modern game's pace and audience expectations.
Speaking on an international sports podcast, the former cricketer suggested a consistent Thursday-to-Sunday schedule for Test matches.
He believes the adjustment would make the sport more viewer-friendly and improve scheduling efficiency.
"It'd start on a Thursday and finish on a Sunday," Vaughan explained. "It would be easy for everyone to understand... if it makes it to Sunday."
He also pointed out that the evolving style of play has diminished the need for a fifth day.
"Let's be honest, the way that the players go out and play their business now, they don't play like I used to play or some of the teams back in the 80s and 90s played," he stated.
"They're playing a brand of cricket which is pretty much to try and win as quick as they possibly can and put the opposition under pressure," he added.
The recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy matches between India and Australia reflect this trend, with the first Test concluding on Day 4 and the second on Day 3.
The 50-year-old argued that such outcomes are becoming increasingly common and align naturally with a four-day format.
"We've got incredibly entertaining players now. Four-day cricket would simplify scheduling and attract a broader audience," Vaughan emphasized. "The administrators around the world need to seriously consider if it's time to go from five days to four."
For the unversed, out of the last 50 Test matches, only three have ended in a draw. These drawn Test matches were significantly affected by rain.
Recent matches reinforce his argument. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy series between India and Australia saw games wrapped up by the third and fourth days. Vaughan believes this trend underscores the natural shift toward shorter Test matches.
