international Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Greg Barkley wants to see women’s Test matches span five days, but has questioned whether the longer format will form part of the future “landscape” of the women’s game.
Five Women’s Tests in the last five years, all played over four days, ended in draws.
England women’s captain Heather Knight has called for a five-day Test to allow more time for a positive result, as in men’s international red-ball cricket.
“Most people would say five days are needed,” Barkley told BBC Radio’s Test Match Special in an interview broadcast during the first men’s Test between England and New Zealand at Lord’s on Friday.
“Of course, if they’re going to play it, my personal view is that they should have five days to play it,” said the New Zealander.
England, Australia and only India Has played a Women’s Test since 2017, the most recent red-ball international with a thrilling drawn Ashes match in January.
However, England are scheduled to play South Africa over four days in June in what will be the Proteas women’s first Test since 2014.
The Ashes draw went on till the last ball, prompting many pundits to play more Women’s Tests.
But scheduling such matches can be costly and women cricketers get fewer opportunities to play longer format games at the domestic level than their male counterparts.
“If you look strategically at how cricket is going, there is no doubt that white-ball cricket is the way of the future,” Barkley said.
“This is the game that fans want. That’s where broadcasters are putting their resources. It’s what’s driving the money.”
“You have to have structures at the domestic level to play Test cricket. They don’t really exist in any country at the moment. I really can’t see women’s Test cricket developing at any particular pace.
“It’s not like any country that likes to play Test cricket can’t do that. But I don’t think it’s any part of the landscape going forward to any real extent.”
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