“3-month dedicated window…” – Michael Vaughan’s unique suggestion to save Test cricket

Former England cricketer Michael Vaughan shared a unique shared a unique suggestion on how the International Cricket Council (ICC) can save Test cricket. He believes that there should be a three-month window for the longest format of the game.

There has been serious concern over the future of Test cricket for the last few years. The growing advent of T20 leagues around the world has put some serious scan on the longest format of the game and it won’t be a surprise if the format vanishes in the next decade or so.

As compared to earlier times, there has been a very small amount of Test cricket as there are more T20 leagues across the globe now. It’s fair to say that Test cricket has now become a luxury, that only the big three in India, England, and Australia can purchase.

The other teams around the world have played very less amount of Test cricket and on top of that, cricket boards too are prioritising leagues over the longest format of the game. This was evident when South Africa named a third-string squad for the Test series in New Zealand. The first-choice players would be plying their trade in SA20.

Not only this, many young players, who have played around 5 Test matches have announced their retirement from the format to focus on T20 cricket. This has raised a lot of concerns over the future of Test cricket with many experts raising their voices.

Michael Vaughan said that there should be Test cricket for three months in the year and that will be the only way protect to Test cricket. Taking to his X account, he explained:

“A 3 month dedicated window for Test cricket every year for both the men & women’s teams is the only way to protect the greatest format. No other cricket but Test around those 3 months, the other 9 months for all the leagues ICC events.”

A 3 month dedicated window for Test cricket every year for both the men & women’s teams is the only way to protect the greatest format .. no other cricket but Test around those 3 months .. the other 9 months for all the leagues ICC events .. 👍👍

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) January 20, 2024

Barring Michael Vaughan, MCC president Mark Nicholas also wants a separate window for Test cricket

Apart from Michael Vaughan, MCC president Mark Nicholas also believes the ICC should keep a separate window for Test cricket. He also understands the threat of T20 cricket and suggested:

“I think Test cricket is going to have to find windows. As the franchise tournaments continue to almost kidnap the game, in a way, and then demand ransoms, probably the best thing everybody can do is find a couple of windows a year, maybe Christmas and New Year into January and June and July, maybe July and August, where you play Test match cricket.”

The ICC recently introduced the World Test Championship to keep Test cricket alive. The move has worked to some extent but there hasn’t been any clarity related to the future of Test cricket. Even Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has been vocal about saving Test cricket. He recently said that it is the responsibility of the big nations to save the format as it has been the pinnacle of the game.