Mumbai/Colombo, 16 October (H.S.): For the first time in nearly 150 years of cricket history, the runs scored by girls and boys will be combined to determine the result of a single team’s match. The inaugural season of Test Twenty, a new format of cricket, will be held from November 14 to 29, 2026, at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. The tournament will feature 160 young cricketers aged between 13 and 21 from around the world. The matches will be broadcast live on the Sony Sports Network.

Test Twenty is being presented as cricket’s fourth format, following the established formats of Test cricket, One-Day Internationals and Twenty20. Its distinguishing feature is that each team will field separate girls’ and boys’ playing XIs, but the runs scored by both sides will be combined into a single total. The result will be determined by the teams’ combined scores.

According to the organisers, the tournament aims to give girls and boys the opportunity to play for a common team and create a new global platform for young cricketers.

80 Overs, Two Balls and One Combined Score

Each Test Twenty contest will be completed in a single day. Every team will bat twice, with a total of 80 overs played. The first 40 overs will take place during the day, using a red ball and traditional white clothing. The remaining 40 overs will be played in coloured clothing with a white ball under the floodlights at the SSC Ground.

Both red and white balls will be used in the same match. Runs scored during the first session will remain part of the overall total in the second session. In other words, every run scored during the day will continue to influence the team’s result during the evening session. The winner will be decided on the basis of the combined score on the same day.

Girls’ and Boys’ Runs Will Determine Each Other’s Victory

Each of the four continental squads participating in Test Twenty will comprise 40 players, including 20 girls and 20 boys. In every contest, the girls’ team will play against the girls’ team of the opposing side, while the boys’ team will face their male counterparts. However, the performances of both groups will be combined to determine the team’s final score.

The format will follow the ‘Parity Rule’, which is designed to ensure equal participation and contribution. The toss will determine which team bats first and whether its girls’ or boys’ XI takes the field first. Runs scored by the girls during the day will influence whether the boys win or lose in the evening. Similarly, runs scored by the boys during the evening will count towards the combined result and, together with the girls’ performance, determine the team’s victory.

Under this system, the girls’ contest will not be merely an event staged before the main match. Instead, the runs scored by the girls will contribute to determining half of the team’s overall result. Girls and boys will share the same team dugout throughout the day and follow each other’s performances closely, as their collective success will depend on the combined score.

Sri Lanka Selected to Host the Inaugural Season

The organisers have selected Sri Lanka to host the inaugural season of this new format. The country has a long-standing tradition of school cricket. The Royal-Thomian cricket encounter was first played in 1879, and its 147th edition was held at the SSC Ground in March this year.

Sri Lanka has produced legendary cricketers such as Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. In 2006, Sangakkara and Jayawardene established the highest partnership in Test cricket history at the SSC Ground, putting together 624 runs.

The organisers believe that Sri Lanka’s passion for school cricket and the support available to young players make the country an ideal host for this new format. Through Test Twenty, they intend to establish Sri Lanka as the founding centre of this global youth cricket initiative.

160 Cricketers to Be Selected from Thousands of Applicants

Thousands of young cricketers from five continents have put themselves forward for the tournament. Over the past 300 days, players have been assessed through selection processes conducted both on the field and online.

The global selection committee has chosen the most promising talents from among the applicants. The committee is chaired by Indian coach Rajkumar Sharma, who is known for identifying Virat Kohli’s early talent and helping shape his cricketing career.

The final list of 160 players will be announced through a player draft scheduled for later this month. The group will comprise 80 girls and 80 boys, who will compete in the inaugural season of Test Twenty.

The tournament’s opening ceremony will take place on November 14, while the final is scheduled for November 29. November 30 has been designated as a reserve day. All matches will be broadcast live on the Sony Sports Network. According to the organisers, a world feed will also be made available to broadcasters and streaming platforms in international markets.

AB de Villiers, Matthew Hayden and Clive Lloyd Join Advisory Board

The Test Twenty advisory board includes former South African captain AB de Villiers, former Australian opening batter Matthew Hayden and former West Indies captain Sir Clive Lloyd. Rajkumar Sharma chairs the global selection committee, while Mike Fordham is responsible for operations. Co-founder Rohit Maru is leading the commercial strategy.

According to the organisers, the initiative brings together people with experience in playing, coaching and managing cricket at the highest levels. Its objective is to create a platform where young players can showcase their abilities on the international stage.

‘For the First Time, Girls and Boys Will Win or Lose Together’

Gaurav Bahirwani, founder of Test Twenty and creator of the Parity Rule, said the initiative had evolved from an idea into a new format and competition designed for young cricketers.

He said, “A year ago, this very week, I introduced Test Twenty to the world alongside AB, Matthew, Sir Clive, Mike and Rohit. At that time, it was an idea on paper and a promise to young cricketers around the world that they would have their own format, their own tournament and an entire ecosystem built around them. On November 14, that promise will be fulfilled for the first time at the SSC Ground in Colombo.”

Emphasising the principle of equality, Bahirwani said, “Parity is not just about the rules or the way we play our game; it is also about broadcasting. On some evenings, girls will play under the floodlights in prime time before a global audience. On other evenings, the boys will play. But every evening, there will be only one scoreboard.”

Speaking about the decision to host the tournament in Sri Lanka, he said, “We have found the right home for this. In Sri Lanka, stadiums fill up to watch school-level cricket. No other country in the world loves its young cricketers the way this island does. From our very first meeting, the leadership of Sri Lanka Cricket supported and encouraged us. Subsequently, the president and committee of the SSC opened their doors to young cricketers arriving from every corner of the world. We are grateful to everyone.”

He added, “For the first time in the history of the sport, girls and boys will win together or lose together. Now, this historic moment will belong to Sri Lanka. We are all heading to Colombo.”

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar