Test Twenty: Mixed-Gender Cricket Tournament to Debut in Colombo on November 14

Colombo, October 16: In a first for cricket, a mixed-gender tournament featuring an 80-over format will be held at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo from November 14 to 29, bringing together young cricketers from across the world.

The tournament, named Test Twenty, will feature 160 players aged between 13 and 21, divided into four continental teams. Each team will comprise 40 players, including 20 girls and 20 boys, whose performances will contribute to a common team score.

The matches will be played over a single day, with each team batting twice across two 40-over sessions. The first half will be played in traditional whites with a red ball during daylight, while the second half will feature coloured clothing and a white ball under floodlights. Scores from the first session will carry forward into the second.

A key feature of the competition will be the 'Parity Rule', designed to ensure that the performances of girls and boys have a direct impact on each other's results.

"Under the Parity Rule, the girls' scores will decide the boys' wins under lights. What he scores under lights decides whether she wins. The next day, the toss may turn it around," a press release from the organisers stated.

Gaurav Bahirvani, founder of Test Twenty and author of the Parity Rule, said the principle of parity would extend beyond the playing conditions to the tournament's broadcast, ensuring equal coverage for both girls and boys.

The event's advisory board includes prominent former cricketers AB de Villiers, Matthew Hayden and Sir Clive Lloyd, lending international recognition to the initiative.

The Global Selection Committee will be chaired by renowned Delhi-based coach Rajkumar Sharma, while Mike Fordham will oversee tournament operations.

With its combined scoring system and equal representation, Test Twenty aims to offer a distinctive format that brings young male and female cricketers together in a shared competitive environment.