Cricket is preparing to experiment with a new format called Test Twenty, which combines elements of Test cricket and T20 while introducing a scoring system designed to give boys’ and girls’ teams equal importance.
The inaugural Junior Test Twenty Championship is scheduled to take place at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from November 14 to 29, 2026. The tournament will feature 160 young cricketers aged between 13 and 21, divided into four continental teams.
Unlike conventional cricket competitions, where men’s and women’s tournaments are played separately, Test Twenty links the performances of both groups to a single team result. Organisers describe it as cricket’s fourth format, although it is a privately developed competition and has not been established as an ICC-recognised international format.
What is Test Twenty?
Test Twenty is a proposed middle format of cricket designed to combine the tactical elements of Test matches with the faster pace of T20 cricket.
According to its organisers, matches will feature 80 overs in a single day, with each team playing two 20-over innings. Scores from the first innings will carry forward into the second rather than being reset.
The format is intended to retain some of the strategic depth associated with longer cricket while making matches considerably shorter than traditional Test games.
Its defining feature is the Parity Rule, under which the performances of boys’ and girls’ teams contribute to a common result. The approach is designed to give both groups a meaningful role in determining the outcome rather than treating the women’s competition as a separate event.
How will the Parity Rule work?
Each of the four continental teams will have a 40-player squad comprising 20 boys and 20 girls.
During the competition, a boys’ XI will face the opposing boys’ XI, while a girls’ XI will compete against the other girls’ XI. Their scores will then be combined to determine the overall result for the continental teams.
This means that a strong performance by one XI could help its team win even if the other XI faces a tougher contest.
The format also introduces a different approach to the toss. In addition to determining which team bats first, the toss will decide whether the boys’ or girls’ match takes place first.
Organisers say the system is intended to create equal stakes for both groups, making the performance of every squad important to the overall team result.
Red-ball cricket by day, white-ball cricket under lights
Test Twenty will divide play into two 40-over sessions, bringing together elements of traditional red-ball cricket and modern white-ball competitions.
The first session will take place during daylight, with players wearing white kits and using a red ball. The second session will be played under floodlights, with coloured clothing and a white ball.
Scores will carry forward between the sessions, ensuring that the second phase begins with the results established earlier in the match still counting towards the final outcome.
The arrangement is intended to give players experience of contrasting conditions and encourage tactical adjustments during a single day’s competition.
Where and when will the tournament take place?
The inaugural championship will be held at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo from November 14 to 29, 2026. An opening ceremony is planned for November 14, with the final scheduled for November 29, and November 30 reserved as a backup day.
The competition will bring together 160 players selected from around the world following on-field and online trials conducted over approximately 300 days.
The final squads will be formed through a player draft. Each continental team will have 20 boys and 20 girls, creating four squads with a combined total of 160 players across the tournament.
According to the organisers’ announcement, matches will be broadcast live on Sony Sports Network.
Who is behind the new cricket format?
Test Twenty was developed by sports entrepreneur Gaurav Bahirvani, who is seeking to establish a new competitive structure for young cricketers.
The tournament’s advisory board includes former South African captain AB de Villiers, former Australian batter Matthew Hayden and former West Indies captain Sir Clive Lloyd.
Rajkumar Sharma, the Delhi-based cricket coach known for mentoring Indian batter Virat Kohli during his early years, chairs the Global Selection Committee. Mike Fordham is overseeing tournament operations.
The organisers say the selection process drew applications from thousands of young cricketers across five continents. Candidates progressed through online assessments and on-field trials before the final group was selected.
The initiative is also designed to create a broader pathway for youth cricket by combining international exposure, player evaluation and structured competition.
Is Test Twenty officially recognised by the ICC?
Not at present. Test Twenty is a privately organised format, and calling it cricket’s fourth format reflects the organisers’ description rather than an official decision by the International Cricket Council.
The ICC’s established international formats include Test cricket, One-Day Internationals and Twenty20 Internationals. For Test Twenty to gain wider recognition, any future expansion would need to navigate the sport’s governing structures and establish its place alongside existing competitions.
The inaugural championship will therefore be an opportunity for organisers to demonstrate whether the rules, combined-score system and mixed-gender team structure can work competitively.
What could Test Twenty mean for cricket?
The proposed format offers a different way to organise youth cricket, particularly by linking boys’ and girls’ performances to a shared team outcome.
Supporters of the initiative hope the model will encourage greater investment in both groups, attract new audiences and create additional opportunities for emerging players.
Its success will depend on the quality of competition, the clarity of its rules and the willingness of players, fans and cricket administrators to embrace the concept.
The November championship will provide the first major test of the format in a tournament setting. Whether Test Twenty develops into a lasting addition to the cricket calendar will depend on the results of that experiment and the interest it generates beyond its inaugural edition.
