India thrashed West Indies by an innings and 140 runs at Ahmedabad, with centuries from KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel and Ravindra Jadeja, putting them on top of the World Test Championship.
Test cricket
When talking about Test cricket, the five‑day, two‑innings format that tests skill, stamina and strategy. Also known as long format cricket, it forms the backbone of international tours and historic rivalries.
Test cricket encompasses multi‑day matches where each team bats twice, making patience and technique crucial. It requires players to adapt to changing pitch conditions, weather swings and the mental grind of a five‑day battle. The format influences the way captains plan innings, manage bowlers and set field placements, often shaping decisions in shorter formats later on.
How Test cricket connects to other formats
One close cousin is ODI cricket, the 50‑over game that blends endurance with a faster pace. While ODIs limit each side to a single innings, they borrow many tactical elements from Tests, such as building partnerships and rotating strike. Another sibling is T20 International, the 20‑over sprint where power‑hitting dominates, yet players still rely on the fundamentals honed in Tests.
Rain‑affected matches bring the DLS method into play, adjusting targets when weather cuts short play. Even though the method is most visible in limited‑overs games, Test fixtures can see similar interruptions, prompting strategic shifts like aggressive declarations or defensive batting to protect leads.
Series dynamics also matter. A five‑match Test series can swing momentum based on a single day's performance, making every session count. Spin bowlers often exploit worn pitches in the fourth and fifth days, while fast bowlers look for early swing under overcast conditions. These nuances create storylines that spill over into ODIs and T20s, influencing player selection and confidence.
Below you’ll find a curated mix of match reports, previews and analysis that reflect how Test cricket interlocks with ODIs, T20s, rain‑adjusted scenarios and series battles. Whether you’re hunting for rain‑shortened ODI results, spin‑focused T20 previews, or insights on how a five‑day contest shapes player form, the collection offers a practical snapshot of the game’s longest format and its ripple effects across the cricketing world.