ICC needs to inject new life in Tests: Warne

Melbourne:

Australia spin legend Shane Warne feels Test cricket will soon be history if the ICC and major cricketing boards fail to take proactive steps to promote the five-day game and save it from extinction.

The former leg-spinner said for any player Test cricket would always be the first priority but to save the longer version of the game the ICC needs to take responsibility and inject new life in it.

"Test cricket to me and to a lot of other ex-players and public is a great form of the game, the best. It has to remain the ultimate, we need to promote it, push it and play an attacking style of cricket. It's where you're judged, earn your respect and get to show what makes you tick," Warne wrote in his column in Daily Telegraph.

"There has been so much talk about a Test championship and nothing has happened. Test cricket needs an injection of something to capture fans across the world.

"It's still big in Australia, England and India, but it is poorly attended in a lot of other countries and that's a concern. If we are not careful it will hit us so quickly that it's dying.

That would be a tragedy and the International Cricket Council and Cricket Australia should lead the way and do something now - ask the players what they think should be done," Warne added.

Since 1877, Test cricket has been the pinnacle of the game but with the advent of Twenty20 format, the longer version is fighting hard for its survival.

The 40-year-old Victorian is dead against long bilateral ODI series and said it is a "joke" for all associated with the game.

"Please, no more greed with these ridiculous seven-match one-day series. It is a joke for public and the players," Warne said.

Australia recently toured India for a seven-match ODI series which the visitors pocketed 4-2.