London, October 17, 2025: Cricket greats AB de Villiers, Sir Clive Lloyd, Matthew Hayden, and Harbhajan Singh have backed the sport’s latest innovation, a hybrid fourth format called Test Twenty, designed to blend the strategic depth of Test cricket with the fast-paced appeal of T20.
Set to launch next year, Test Twenty targets youth players aged 13 to 19 and aims to serve as a bridge between traditional and modern forms of the game. Matches will be played in whites with a red ball, feature four innings of 20 overs each, and conclude within a single day.
The format introduces a series of experimental rules: each team gets a four-over PowerPlay, the follow-on can be enforced if a side trails by 75 runs or more, and teams must use a maximum of five bowlers, each allowed to bowl up to eight overs.
Unlike limited-overs formats, Test Twenty allows for wins, losses, ties, or draws, offering young players the full spectrum of match outcomes in a condensed contest.
All four legends are serving on the Test Twenty Advisory Board, which will oversee the format’s global rollout and development programs.
De Villiers, known for his creativity and flair, said the format would inspire both innovation and discipline.
“What excites me most is the real creative freedom this format brings,” he said. “It lets players express themselves but also teaches balance — the ability to survive across two innings.”
Former West Indies captain Sir Clive Lloyd praised the fusion of endurance and entertainment.
“T20 cricket is an exhibition, and Test cricket is an examination. You’re now combining these two things into one. I’m sure it will be a success,” he said.
Meanwhile, India’s Harbhajan Singh underscored the need to build fan connection.
“It’s the crowd that makes any game famous,” he said. “The best thing we can do is simplify it so people can understand and connect with it.”
Australian great Matthew Hayden said the concept could revive interest in red-ball cricket among young players while maintaining the excitement of short-format play.
With its blend of strategy, skill, and spectacle, Test Twenty could mark the next major evolution in cricket’s global journey.
