Timeless Test match idea finds few friends

The possibility of a timeless Test match to decide the planned world Test championship was laughed off by England and India players on Tuesday.

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat had suggested the idea, which places no time constraints on players and allows for an open-ended match, for the final of the innovative 2013 tournament.

"No chance, five days is plenty," England spinner Graeme Swann told a news conference ahead of the first of four Tests against India starting at Lord's on Thursday.

"We get enough stick from the Americans coming over saying 'oh my God you play for five days'."

India batsman Rahul Dravid reckoned his team's bowlers would also complain about tiredness.

"I wouldn't mind a good flat deck," he joked. "Not sure the bowlers are going to be queuing up for that contest."

The last timeless Test was between South Africa and England in Durban in 1939. The match lasted nine days but was called a draw because the tourists had to catch their boat home.

The ICC is considering a number of other options for the final of the four-team playoff between the highest-ranked sides in the world.