England vs India: A Reminder of Why 5-Day Test Cricket Still Matters

England vs India: The First Test Match

Over five days fans witnessed a contest rich in drama, skill, and tension. Everything that makes Test cricket the most nuanced and rewarding format in the sport.  

With both teams trading blows across innings, and the result hanging in the balance until late on the final day, this match wasn’t just a game. It was a statement and reminder that when played with intent, quality, and stakes, five-day Test cricket remains unrivalled. 

The Unique Drama of the Test Format

This test match arrived at a pivotal time for cricket. Over recent years we have seen shorter formats of the game begin to take precedent. Since the ECB’s inception of T20 cricket in 2003, cricket has seen (and not always welcomed) the arrival of the T10 format, and most recently The Hundred.  

Even more recently, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has backed World Test Championship (WTC) four-day Tests to boost smaller nations. 

Whilst we absolutely want to see smaller nations prosper in the world of Test cricket, this is yet another example of the game being shortened. This time it is the beloved Test cricket format which is being altered.  

This is not a new phenomenon, however. Zimbabwe has played a 4 day test against South Africa in 2017, and most recently against England earlier this year.  

Why the move? The average Test match in 2024 lasted about 268 overs – roughly equivalent to three full days of cricket – suggesting that many matches no longer require a full five days to reach a conclusion. (Source) 

Yes, most decisions are financially motivated, but most fans would agree that we cannot sacrifice Test cricket for the sake of the longest format.  

Test cricket was in dire need of an event to remind decision-makers and fans why the format has been, and should always be, the pinnacle of the sport.  

Enter the first Test of five between England and India. 

The Headingley Test unfolded in a very classic way. A strong Indian start, an English counterpunch, a second innings twist, and a nail-biting chase. All of which took place over a well-paced five days.  

Unlike T20s or even One Day Internationals (ODI), only a five-day Test allows for such layered narrative arcs to develop and resolve organically. 

High Skills, High Stakes

Test cricket demands physical prowess that isn’t often required in the shorter formats of the game.  

Alongside the physical side of the game, Test cricket is often heralded for the mental demands it places on players.  

It is a battle of time, skill, and mental aptitude.

The Test between England and India was no different. With Rohit Sharma and, former-captain, Virat Kohli no longer part of the set-up, Shubman Gill was named captain for the first time.  

Gill answered critics early in the match with a fine century. Jaiswal, Pant, Duckett, Pope, and KL Rahul all hit centuries in the Test match. They weren’t just flashy and pacey; they were carefully constructed under pressure. 

From the other end, we saw some expert bowling. Namely from Jasprit Bumrah who took a five-wicket haul in the first innings. Bowling in Test cricket requires consistency, and ‘working a batter out’ in order to get the better of them. 

Finally came the psychological battle of a fourth-innings chase. Which showcased the mental and physical demands unique to Test cricket. The total of 371 was the 10th highest chase in the history of the format. 

What helped all of this was a well-prepared pitch, something which is vital in making a Test match ‘good’. There was enough ‘in’ the pitch for bowling and batting across all five days of the game. 

Time Becomes a Character

Before it was constricted to 5 days, Test cricket was timeless. The last timeless Test was the fifth Test between England and South Africa at Durban in 1939, which was abandoned as a draw after nine days of play spread over twelve days, otherwise the England team would have missed the boat for home. 

Five days should provide an ample amount of time for either side to win (weather permitting). Failing a result, you will often see tense moments at the close of day five when teams are playing out for a draw.  

See the example of the Cardiff Ashes Test in 2009 when Monty Panesar and Jimmy Anderson batted England to a Draw against Australia.  

Linking this all back to the England vs India Test, in a four-day match this game may have ended in a draw or been robbed of its thrilling climax. 

The fifth day offered tension, resolution, and history. It wasn’t a luxury, it was essential to the drama.  

Proof There is an Appetite

There was strong attendance across all five days of the Test match, showing that fans will turn up if the contest is meaningful.  

Headingley was not completely sold out on day 4 and 5, mainly due to being on working days. However, tickets were at a reduced price to encourage last-minute attendees.  

The price of Test match tickets in England has become a barrier to entry. Particularly at London venues, The Oval and Lords. The ECB is trying to strike the balance between making Test cricket financially sustainable and setting a fair price.  

England, Australia and India are tier one Test cricket nations and will always hold the most weight. The India – England rivalry, rich in history, still resonates globally when it’s treated with care. 

The same can be said about the Ashes between Australia and England, which next takes place in Australia at the end of 2025. The key question is how smaller Test nations can be bolstered and compete, on and off the field, with tier one nations. 

Rebutting the Modernisation of the Game

There is certainly room for innovation in cricket, but not at the cost of identity. The Hundred has ‘ruffled feathers’ since its inception, but there is no doubt that it has brought a bigger spotlight onto the sport.  

The increase of funds into the ECB and further interest from the nation will hopefully improve the uptake of the sport. Therefore, improving the pathways and opportunity for all. It has also undoubtedly improved the reputation and interest in Women’s Cricket. Again, providing the opportunity for more funds into the game and being an inspiration to young girls across the country.

Making Test cricket shorter or tinkering with the format misses the point. The Headingley Test showed that what Test cricket needs is not change, but support: better scheduling, marketing, and respect from boards and broadcasters. 

Sky Sports (and its pundits) have supported Test cricket for a long time. But it is quite often statements from current players which make the biggest difference.  

For example, England star, Harry Brook, removed himself from the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) to focus on the India Test series and other forms of international cricket.  

The IPL introduced a rule stating that players who withdraw after being picked in the auction face a two-season ban. Therefore, showing how important Test cricket is for Harry Brook, one of cricket’s biggest stars.  

The West Indies is a proud cricketing establishment but has massively dropped off in recent years, when it comes to Test cricket.  

Sir Garfield Sobers was part of the all-conquering sides of the 1970s and 1980s. He recently spoke about not seeing any parallel between the current team and the one he played in. 

He stated that some of the current players have prioritised lucrative T20 competitions, such as the IPL, over international commitments. 

Travelling around the world playing the shorter formats of the game can provide a better financial return for players and entice them to step away from the longer formats.  

Nicholas Pooran, one of West Indies’ best players, recently retired from international cricket at the age of 29. Pooran is the most capped West Indian in T20 internationals with 106, and the leading T20I run-scorer with 2,275. 

Yet another example of international cricket making way for franchise cricket.  

Conclusion

The Headingley fixture didn’t just entertain, it reminded us of Test cricket’s essence. A battle of skill, strategy, endurance, and character played out over time.  

In a sporting landscape increasingly obsessed with immediacy and finance, five-day cricket offers something richer: depth.  

The answer to cricket’s future isn’t abandoning the format that built the game; it’s investing in it. Four-day matches might be a short-term answer to give a boost to smaller Test nations. But it should not be the long-term answer. 

This match was proof that Test cricket, when allowed to breathe, still delivers in ways no other format can.  

And for all the talk of evolution, perhaps what cricket needs right now is to remember what made it beautiful in the first place. 

We look forward to seeing how the remainder of the Test series plays out. Based on the first Test match, it could be one for the history book!