Big cricket names gathered in Colombo on Friday for the official unveiling of Test Twenty, which is being promoted as the fourth format of the sport. Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden, former Sri Lanka player Russel Arnold, and Virat Kohli's childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma were all present for the launch.
The contest packs an 80-over game into just one day. Each side bats for two innings of 20 overs each.
How the tournament works
Four continental franchises are taking part: South Asia, Australasia, Europe, and Sub-Saharan Africa. The squads will feature youngsters aged 13 to 21.
The tournament includes a special 'Parity Rule'. Under this system, the boys' and girls' teams play their matches separately, but their performances are combined to decide the final match outcome and tournament points.
“You don’t get better by playing less, and that’s something the game needs to address. I see Test Twenty as a very good pathway product for the next generation.”Matthew Hayden
Hayden backs young talent
Matthew Hayden, who is acting as mentor for the Australasia franchise, praised the concept for giving up-and-coming talent crucial playing time.
The maiden season features 10 matches in total, finishing with the final on November 29. Cricket fans can watch the action live on Sony LIV and FanCode.
What happens next
The inaugural tournament runs until November 29, featuring 10 matches streamed live on Sony LIV and FanCode.
