The real essence of the cricket game lies in its most extended form, which is a Test match format. Test matches are also fan-favourites in online cricket game betting sites. Moreover, cricketers who undergo Test matches not only get to practice their abilities to the highest form, but they also get to measure their temperament as professional players. Many consider Test matches as the most intriguing format in the sport of cricket.

The beautiful game of cricket has a long and storied history associated with Test matches. The rules of a live cricket match have gone through a substantial number of changes throughout the years since the inception of cricket Test matches.

For a newcomer in the world of cricket, you might wonder how these Test matches differ from standard, live cricket games. Let us discuss.

What is a Test Match?

Years ago, a cricket Test match would go on for as long as six to even seven days to determine a clear winner of the game. Later on, the governing body changed it to five days with two innings per side. A rest day was usually between the third and fourth day of a Test match, but the board scrapped it in 1997 after the West Indies-India Test match in Bridgetown.

A regular day in Test cricket consists of three sessions with 30 overs for each. The breaks between are 40 minutes for lunch and 20 minutes for a cup of tea.

In Test cricket, each team bats twice. If team A bats first and team B bats second, the same order will be observed in the next innings, except in a follow-on. If team B scores more than team A in the first innings, B is supposed to be in the lead, except if they are trailing by a deficit.

If team A puts up a score and team B is all out with a deficit of more than 200 runs still to chase, then the captain of team A may impose a follow-on in which Team B bats again to lessen team A’s lead. The decision to implement a follow-on relies on team A’s captain.

If a team thinks that they have batted enough to control the Test match and the opposing team will be unable to bowl them out, they may choose to declare the innings and ask the other team to beat. If team A has batted twice and still did not cross the first innings total of team B, they lose the match by innings. However, if all four innings are not achievable in the five days, the Test match ends in a tie.

Scoring Runs in Test Cricket

In Test matches, teams can score a run when the batters hit the ball and run to the opposite side of the pitch right before the bowlers remove the bails on the stumps. Players can get multiple runs from one hit, but only if the batters know that they still have the time to complete more than one run.

If the batter can hit the ball to the edge of the field, their team immediately gets four runs, and if they can hit the ball over the edge of the playing field without it bouncing first, their team will receive six runs. These rules give a higher reward because they expect the batter to take more risks.

Bowling in Test Cricket

Fast bowlers and spin bowlers are the two main types of bowlers in Test cricket matches. Fast bowlers depend on how a player bowls the ball as fast as possible and moves the ball through the air called a “swing” and off the pitch, also known as a “seam” to get wickets. On the other hand, Spin bowlers are players who bowl slower and put sidespin on the ball to get it to move away or into the direction of the batter to trick them into giving away their wicket.

The purpose of bowling in Test matches is to bowl as many batters out while yielding as few runs as possible. There are numerous ways for a batter to be out of a game. The most common one is to catch out, where a fielding player catches the ball after the batter has hit it before the ball hits the ground. Second, there is Leg Before Wicket (LBW), where the ball hits the batter’s body (except for their hands) in front of the umpire judges and stumps. The third one is a bowl, where the bowler has the ball and hits the stumps.

Another is a run-out, where the fielding team uses the ball to the bails on top of stumps. The run-out happens when the batters try to run and fail to get to the other side of the field in time. A similar way of dismissal is to be stumped out, which usually entails the wicket-keeper using the ball to remove the bails, knowing that the batter is out of the crease. Batters can also be out by obstructing the field. Either by getting in the way of the fielding team on purpose or by handling the ball.

Over Limit

Test cricket matches need to bowl a minimum of 90 overs per day or 15 overs every hour except for the last day. At the same time, a minimum of 75 overs on the previous day must be possible. The planned overs may be reduced or increased depending on natural elements that may affect the match, like rain or other disturbances.

If a team declared their innings in the day’s play or a change of innings when they bowled out, two overs would subtract from the minimum overs on a particular.

New Balls

After every 80 overs bowled in the Test match, a new ball may come into play. A new one can only replace the ball if the original ball changes shape and fails the loop test.

Decision Review System

The purpose of the Decision Review System (DRS) is to review the decision by on-field umpires. DRS was officially implemented in a match between Pakistan and New Zealand in November 2009 at Dunedin.

Originally, cricket teams were given a maximum of two reviews per inning and, later on, a top-up of reviews after 80 overs. Today, teams only have two reviews per inning with no review lost in case of an umpire’s call. Moreover, there are no more top-up reviews.

Floodlights

Test cricket matches usually play under natural weather conditions, and the arena lights are only needed to complete a full day of a scheduled Test match.

To improve the quality and popularity of Test cricket matches, the ICC permitted the usage of a pink ball in day-night Test matches. The first day-night Test cricket match was between Australia and New Zealand in November 2015, which Australia won by three wickets.

Now, the regulations for day-night Test matches differ a little from traditional Test matches. The home team and visiting team must seek approval from the ICC to play a day-night Test cricket match. Both teams must agree on the playing hours subject to six hours of scheduled play per day. Additional rules also must be decided in agreement between the two groups regarding day-night Test matches.

Bottomline

In today’s world, cricket Test matches or series demand fast-paced action and instant entertainment for fans to enjoy. The concept of a cricket game that can take up to five days to finish, with a chance of not having a clear winner at the end, is unfathomable to millions of cricket fans. Yet, it still captivates fans worldwide with its history and intense rivalries.

Undoubtedly, Test matches and series are a little bit dragging for some people, but it certainly does its job in providing the best action and sports drama in the world of cricket.

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