New mixed-gender cricket format to debut in Sri Lanka in 2026
Test Twenty will feature boys and girls competing on the same teams with combined scores determining winners.
At a glance
- Tournament features 160 players aged 13-21 in four continental teams
- Boys and girls play separate innings but contribute combined runs to team total
- Matches consist of 80 overs split between day and night sessions with different equipment
- Described as cricket's fourth format, blending Test and T20 elements
A new cricket competition called Test Twenty will make its debut in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from November 14 to 29, 2026, according to Gulf News. The tournament will feature 160 young cricketers aged 13 to 21, organised into four continental teams of 20 boys and 20 girls each.
Boys will compete against boys and girls against girls in separate innings, but both groups' runs will contribute to a single team total. Each match will span 80 overs, with 40 overs played during the day using a red ball and traditional white clothing, and 40 overs under floodlights with a white ball and coloured jerseys. The organisers describe it as cricket's fourth format, combining elements of Test and T20 cricket.
Why it matters
The format represents an innovation in competitive cricket structure, introducing a mixed-gender team competition for young players at the international level.
Original reporting
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