Radical proposals for cricket may result in four-day Tests, 40-over ODIs

If fundamental proposals in front of English authorities gain footing then it might lead to 40-over matches in the next Cricket World Cup and Test cricket could be reduced to four-day instead of the traditional five-day affair.

Details from Strategy Conservation Summary, a working document of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), have emerged, with major plans to freshen the game there.

The details were broadly reported by cricket specialist website CricInfo, and the mainstream British media has followed these details.

The governing body has confirmed the existence of a document that has been circulated amongst the 18 county chairmen, Stuff.co.nz reported.

A British publication reported that the paper proposes streamlining the English county scene and implementing a franchise-operated Twenty20 component to rival the Indian Premier League and Australia's Big Bash.

A reduction on the number of Tests played is also understood to be in the paper to accommodate the enlarged and lucrative T20 element. Even an interest in reducing Test matches from five days to four days and cutting ODIs by 10 overs to 40 overs is also there.

England are due to host the next World Cup in 2019, the report added.