Amid fears over the future of Test cricket, a vision of a new format, which includes elements of both the traditional red-ball version and the modern Twenty20 game, has emerged under the name “Test Twenty”.
The idea was floated on Thursday by Indian sports entrepreneur Gaurav Bahirvani, chief executive of One One Six Network, and is sponsored by former stalwarts such as AB de Villiers, Clive Lloyd, Matthew Hayden and Harbhajhan Singh.
According to a press release, “Test Twenty fuses the strategic depth of Test cricket with the speed and spectacle of T20.” The format will be played in 80 overs, with two innings of 20 overs per side, with scores carried forward throughout the innings.
Each team bats twice, as in a Test match, while the rules of Test and T20 cricket will apply, with some refined adjustments to suit the new format.
“Matches can conclude with a win, a loss, a draw or a draw, ensuring that each competition retains the full spectrum of cricket’s drama and unpredictability,” the statement further read.
However, the “Fourth Format”, as coined by its creators, will be tested first at the youth level, “opening the doors of opportunity to young cricketers aged between 13 and 19 from all corners of the world”.
Organizers said players will be evaluated based on their skills, data and merit through a multi-level analysis-based selection process, leading to an elite pool of auctions for franchise selection.
The first full season of Test Twenty debuts in January 2026 and features six high-profile global franchises: three international (Dubai, London and one US city) and three Indian (franchise choice cities).
Each franchise will be backed by a next-generation celebrity (“star child”) and driven by talent discovered through the annual Junior Test Twenty Championship.
The top 300 players to emerge from this stage will advance to the Global Auction Pool, where franchises will attract talent for the inaugural season.
“I truly believe that this fourth format can add a new dimension to our game,” de Villiers said in a statement. “Many of us have enjoyed the T20 format over the years, but we still have a special affection for Test cricket and want it to be played and enjoyed forever.”
There has been growing concern about the fate of Test cricket in recent years, with lower-ranked teams struggling to play the format on a regular basis, in stark contrast to India, England and Australia, who play five-Test series against each other every two years alongside their matches with other teams.
The scenario has conceived the idea of a two-tier system, suggesting that weaker test sides fight for promotion to the higher tier. It has not yet been discussed at an official level.
