England Test skipper fears for five-day format in the face of T20 and ODI overkill
England Test skipper fears for five-day format in the face of T20 and ODI overkill
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Big worry: England Test skipper Andrew Strauss. Pic/Getty Images
Strauss, who led England to the No 1 spot in Tests, said financial rewards from telecast of Twenty20 and ODIs have threatened the future of the five-day game.
"I have concerns about the state of Test cricket. Even in traditional hotbeds of the game such as South Africa, attendances are a long way below what we would expect them to be. I am very much aware that if we are arrogant and assume Test cricket will always be there, we are sowing the seeds of our downfall," Strauss was quoted as saying by The Times.
Apathy
Strauss is also concerned about the apathy of the game's administrators towards the oldest form of the game. The inaugural World Test Championship, slated for 2013, is likely to be postponed for four years to fit in another one-day tournament in 2013 while next summer's Test series between England and South Africa will now be played over three Tests, and not five that was earlier agreed.
"I don't quite understand how that has come about. It was not that long ago they were talking about it being a prestige series that should always be played over five Tests.
"There is lots of cricket to fit in and you can't play five Tests against every opponent but the responsibility is on administrators to provide a product people want to watch. In our country series against Australia, South Africa and India stand out a bit more," Strauss said.
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