MUMBAI: Test cricket, which has been fast losing its popularity to the shorter version of the game, is going to experiment with the day and night format to attract prime time television audience.

In a significant development, the International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket Committee has agreed to maintain the impetus with regard to day and night Test cricket and recommended that should the competing countries in a bi-lateral series agree that they wish to try this out, this request should be accommodated.

The Committee also agreed that the trials at domestic level should continue.

Market research has recognised that the appeal of day and night Test cricket might be better suited to certain markets, particularly India, New Zealand and South Africa, and the trials revealed certain cricket balls retained their colour and performed better than others.

The ICC Cricket Committee had earlier received reports of the ongoing trials and considered the reports involving the development and feasibility of using different colour balls in multi-day formats in day and night conditions. They also considered a report from John Stephenson of the MCC on the experiences of their annual games in Abu Dhabi, reports from Australia, England and Pakistan as well as spectator feedback.

The encouraging change over the late years is that the value of Test cricket has fallen at a time when the level of competitiveness has intensified and matches have started yielding more results.

Statistics from David Kendix demonstrate that over-rates are at their highest in five years in Test cricket and that the average frequency of no-balls has dropped sharply. There is also a reduction in high scoring draws and that spin bowlers are being deployed more often in all forms of the game.

Kendix, who supplied these statistics to the Committee, also highlights that Test cricket is as competitive now as it has been for many years with five teams being separated by only eight rating points.

The committee, thus, feels that there is a need now, through the Targeted Assistance Performance Programme (TAPP) and the Future Tours Programme (FTP), to improve the competitiveness of some of the lesser performing countries.

Twenty20 strategy: With the popularity of this format of the game fast rising, the ICC Cricket Committee feels that it is wise to let the status quo prevail.

The ICC Cricket Committee supports the World Twenty20 being held every two years; the World Twenty20s should continue to be joint men?s and women?s events; and World Twenty20 should be 16 men?s team event from 2014 in order to encourage the development of the game.

The Committee does not think there is need to have an ICC World U19 Twenty20.

The Committee?s views are, thus, in line with those of the ICC Board and the Chief Executive Council?s which have already agreed that the ICC World Twenty20 would remain a joint men?s and women?s event and that the men?s teams should increase from 12 to 16 teams from 2014 onwards.

International cricket, being the lifeblood of the world game, needs the ICC to play a leadership role to protect and promote international cricket. Recognising this, the committee believes that the ICC and its member boards need to proactively ensure that the attraction of international cricket is primary and not only maintained but enhanced.