Test matches are cricket’s longest format, It is the most exciting of all formats and a true test of a cricketer’s ability and temperament. Cricket has a long and distinguished history, and the laws of the game have changed greatly since its origin.
What is Test Match cricket?
In the old days of the game, a Test match would last for 6 or even 7 days in order to determine the game’s outcome. However, it was finally decided that a test match with two innings on each side would be played over five days.
Between the third and fourth days of a test match, a rest day was traditionally granted, but it was discontinued in 1997 after the India-West Indies test match in Bridgetown. In test cricket, a typical day consists of 3 sessions of 30 overs each. Lunch is 40 minutes long and tea is 20 minutes long between classes.
Each side bats twice in test cricket. Except in the case of a follow-on, if team Y bats first and team Z bats next, the same sequence will be continued in the subsequent innings. If team Z scores higher than team Y in the first innings, they are considered to be ahead by a margin, otherwise they are referred to be behind by a margin.
If team Y scores and team Z is all out with more than 200 runs to chase, team y’s captain may order a follow-on, in which team Z bats once more in an attempt to reduce the deficit and gain a lead over Y. Team Z’s captain makes the decision to force a follow-on.
If a side believes they have batted sufficiently to get into command of the game and that the opposition would be incapable to bowl them out, they can proclaim the innings and request the other team to beat. If team Y bats again and still fail to surpass team Y’s first innings total, the match is lost by an innings, and if all four innings are not finished in the five days, the match is a draw.
Over Limit in Test Match Cricket
Except on the final day of a Test match, a minimum of 90 overs or 15 overs per hour must be bowled in a day. For the playing duration, a minimum of 75 overs must be bowled on the final day. If the match is disrupted by rain or other factors, the scheduled overs may be decreased or increased.
If a team gets bowled out or declares their innings during the day’s play, two overs will be removed from the minimum overs to be bowled that day.
History of Test Match
As we all know that Englishmen have developed this game, but you will be surprised to know that the first International test match was played between Canada and USA, on September 25, 1944. After that, it gained popularity and now it is an integral format of cricket on which bets are made.
Some Interesting Rules of Test Cricket
- There are no field restrictions in this format.
- There is no limitation of over quota for any bowler.
- There are four innings in this format.
- In limited over cricket, if a bowler bowls a no-ball then the batsman gets a free-hit delivery in the following bowl. However, test cricket is free from that.
- A total of 450 overs is played in 5 days.