Cricket Australia chief executive hints at trialling four-day Test matches

Next year’s Ashes series will be prefaced with England hosting Ireland in a four-day Test at Lord’s in July

Cricket Australia’s CEO Kevin Roberts says that four-day Test cricket is something to be "open minded to".

Roberts - who succeeded James Sutherland, after a 17-year stay in the role - said: "The average duration of a Test match is a shade over four days.

"We know there's been timeless Tests over the years, we know there were even three-day Tests. So Test cricket hasn't been five days in duration forever," he told SEN.

"And I think the concepts of four days going forward is something we need to be open to, without jumping to conclusions."

In December 2017, South Africa hosted Zimbabwe at Port Elizabeth in the sport’s inaugural four-day Test match. The contest lasted just 907 balls as the Proteas stormed to an innings and 120-run victory.

^{Roberts with his predecessor James Sutherland}

Next year’s Ashes series will be prefaced with England hosting Ireland in a four-day Test at Lord’s in July.

Australia themselves are due to host Afghanistan in November 2020 - a match which will take place outside of the Test Championship schedule and would provide a possible opportunity to trial the four-day game.

"Outside the Test Championship, that's the opportunity," Roberts stated.

"The Test Championship is five-day Test cricket out to 2021, so that doesn't change, but outside of that there are other possibilities to consider and beyond that, beyond 2021 what it might look like. 

"There's a bit to be said for it isn't there, and it's certainly something I think we need to be open-minded to down the track."