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Test cricket can last five days and still end in a draw, which is the point

the gist

Test cricket is the longest form of cricket, played between national teams in white clothing over up to five days. Each team bats up to two innings, and a side wins by scoring more runs than the opposition and bowling them out. If neither side wins in the time available, the match is a draw. The format has been played since 1877, when the first match was staged at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Day-night Tests with a pink ball began in Adelaide in 2015 to attract viewers.

how it works

A team bats until it is all out, meaning ten of its batters have been dismissed, or until its captain declares the innings closed. Runs scored in each innings are added up. The side batting last may need to chase a target, and if time runs out before a result, the match is drawn.

so what

Test cricket is one of the few sports where time is part of the contest, so it tests endurance and temperament as well as skill. Its long format is why many players and fans treat it as the highest standard of the sport.

fun fact

Test cricket has the longest scheduled playing time of any sport, except for some multi-stage cycling races.

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Adapted from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Image: Wikimedia Commons