ECB consider radical plan for four-day Tests and 40-over one-day internationals

Radical suggestions to press for the shortening of Test matches and one-day internationals will come under consideration by the England and Wales Cricket Board this year.
The governing body confirmed on Wednesday the existence of a document, quoted by Cricinfo as containing plans for a streamlined county championship and the inauguration of an Indian Premier League-style Twenty20 competition - possibly by reducing the number of home Test matches each summer.
The 'Strategy Conversation Summary' also reportedly records interest at the ECB in pushing for four-day rather than five-day Tests and - by the time the next World Cup is held in this country in 2019 - one-day internationals lasting only 40 instead of 50 overs per side.

A lot of players seem to still regard test matches as the most important format of the game, and I'm not sure they'd be too happy to see them shortened. Timeless tests were always a rarity, so that's not really relevant.

40 over ODIs wouldn't be as serious a change though. At one time ODIs were 60 overs after all!

The first 3 World Cups were 60-over tournaments and then reduced to 50-overs in 1987.

Me too. I actually miss the Gillette/NatWest tournaments of yesteryear.