Test cricket is facing a "very real danger" of dying out, the MCC World Cricket Committee has warned.
The committee, whose two-day meeting at Lord's ended on Wednesday, fears the rise of lucrative Twenty20 competitions like the Indian Premier League is killing the longer form of the game.
"Except for certain icon series, such as the Ashes, Test cricket throughout the world, and in particular the lower-ranked nations, is in very real danger of dying," a committee statement read.
"MCC's research proved that attendances at Test cricket have declined in recent years.
"In addition, there is a growing ambivalence towards the longer format of the game from cricketers in certain nations, with player surveys revealing that an IPL contract was the main career aspiration for many."
The statement added: "The committee is deeply concerned that the proliferation of lucrative domestic Twenty20 leagues, such as the IPL, will lead to the premature retirement of quality international cricketers.
"Those from the lower-ranked Test nations could be particularly susceptible to such a career choice, based on earnings alone."
The Committee advocated the setting up of a World Test Championship to help safeguard the future of the game.
It said: "Work should commence immediately on devising the appropriate format."
Comment 1 - 1 of 1
I am pleased to learn that MCC are taking action to try to reverse the decline in the popularity of Test cricket, due mainly to the introduction of Twenty20 which has caught the imagination of so many worldwide and will appeal to youngsters who have never had the opportunity to learn about the longer versions of the game so this must be a positive. "QuickCricket" has, I believe, also been a great success in this regard. So their task is enormous and ways must be found to prevent top players, current and potential, from abandoning traditional forms of the game which, of course, they will do if it is so much more lucrative; it's down to money.
Chris Gayle was quite definite on the issue and now Andrew Flintoff's announcement that he will retire from Test cricket at the end of this Ashes series is another straw in the wind.
The setting up of a World Test Championship would certainly be a step in the right direction and we can only hope that MCC's initiative will bring success.
Tony Bingley
Rayong, Thailand
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