ICC confirms playing conditions for four-day Test

The International Cricket Council has confirmed the playing conditions for the inaugural four-day Test match set to be played between South Africa and Zimbabwe later this month in Port Elizabeth.

The encounter which will also be a day-night Test will see a minimum of 98 overs bowled on every day which will be eight more than the prescribed quota for the five-day game which means the scheduled close of play on each of the day will be 30 minutes additional.

Teams can enforce a follow-on if they managed a first innings lead of 150 runs which is 50 less than the normal regulation for the five-day game.

The rise in the Twenty20 games around the world did have an impact in the longer format of the game which had seen a steady decline in the recent years and the four-day contest is seen as a medium to keep the spectators interested as it will force the teams to be aggressive in order to attain a result.

Zimbabwe will play a tour game at Boland Park in Paarl before locking horns with the Proteas in the only Test at St George's Park between 26th and 29th December.