Herschelle Gibbs takes a dig at ICC chairman Jay Shah for 4-day tests after thrilling ENG vs IND test series

Herschelle Gibbs took a dig at the ICC chairman following conclusion of the five-match ENG vs IND test series.

Former South African cricketer Herschelle Gibbs has cleverly poked fun at the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) suggested four-day test matches by using the exciting India-England test series as a timely counterpoint.

As the five-match test series between England and India for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 produced yet another thrilling match full of twists, comebacks, and traditional test cricket drama, Gibbs, who is renowned for his outspoken comments, offered his thoughts on the ongoing controversy.

The India-England series has showcased the unique charm of five-day test cricket — momentum swings, tactical depth, and late-session turnarounds. England won the first test in Leeds as they chased down 371 runs thanks to their Bazball way of batting. India came back strong at Edgbaston, winning their first test at the venue thanks to Shubman Gill’s brilliant 269 and 169.

England then eked out a 22-run win at the Lord’s despite India’s brilliant rearguard batting performance. The same batting performance helped India dig themselves out of a huge problem in Manchester as they drew the game.

Herschelle Gibbs’s sarcastic jibe at ICC for their 4-day tests idea

The fifth and final test kept the fans on the edge with some brilliant batting and bowling at The Oval. Yashasvi Jaiswal’s century and the wholesome batting performance gave India a chance with a 374-run target. England looked galloping to the win with Harry Brook and Joe Root scoring centuries, but then Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna bowled their hearts out and gave India a 6-run win.

The Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 then ended in a 2-2 draw. It’s the kind of narrative that would struggle to unfold meaningfully in a shortened format.

Taking to social media after India’s thrilling win in the fourth Test at Old Trafford, Herschelle Gibbs tweeted, “You guys wanted test cricket to be 4 days”.

His comment was a clear swipe at the ICC’s renewed talks about maybe cutting test matches to four days to free up more time on an increasingly full international schedule. But according to the former Proteas batsman, doing so would deprive test cricket of its most exciting moments.

Gibbs’ opinion is in line with that of a number of others who feel that players frequently perform at their peak on the fifth day, which is a real test of stamina, talent, and mental fortitude. Numerous historical matches that were decided in the last hours of day five were cited by many.

Gibbs’ remark serves as a reminder that the essence of test cricket is its leisurely style, even as the ICC continues to look into ways to modernize and market the sport.

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