New Delhi: It will be a new milestone for cricket, as for the first time Test match will be played for 4 days. The shorter format may bring in more spectators to the grounds. The first official four-day Test match will be played between South Africa and Zimbabwe at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth. It will be a Boxing Day Test match.
It is an experiment, which will also be played with a pink ball as a day/night encounter, that has been met with more enthusiasm in Zimbabwe than their hosts, who will have a number of their experienced campaigners back in action.
Zimbabwe coach Heath Streak believes cutting a day from the game will force teams to score quicker, and that means taking more risks, which could play into the hands of so-called minnow nations.
Fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani and Burl, both uncapped at Test level, could make their debuts.
South Africa have batsman AB de Villiers available for selection again after he ended his self-imposed exile from Test cricket, while Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel have all recovered from injuries to bolster the seam attack.
The match is the start of a busy summer for South Africa, who also play three home five-day Tests against India and four versus Australia, to go with a number of matches in the shorter formats.
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