The Zimbabwe cricket team are currently touring South Africa in December 2017 to play a four-day Test match as a day/night fixture starting on Boxing Day.] Ahead of the Test match, there will also be a three-day day/night match between Zimbabwe and the South African Invitation XI.

Despite being a four-day match, Cricket South Africa sought approval from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to grant the fixture Test match status.The ICC approved the request for Test status in October 2017 at their board meeting in Auckland. The trial of the four-day Test format by the ICC will run until the 2019 Cricket World Cup. Per the ICC's playing conditions, a minimum of 98 overs are to be bowled each day, with the follow-on set at a lead of 150 runs, instead of 200 runs in a five-day game. Four-day Test matches were last played in 1973, between New Zealand and Pakistan.

However, South African cricketers Faf du Plessis and Dean Elgar expressed their concerns about a four-day Test match. Captain du Plessis said that "I believe the great Test matches have gone to the last hour of the last day on day five" and opening batsman Elgar said "I don't think you should tinker with something that's not broken". Zimbabwe's captain Graeme Cremer was more positive saying "everyone is excited to be part of the historical Test match"