ODIs not Tests under threat from Twenty20: MCC

Melbourne:

With the advent of Twenty20, serious doubts have already been raised over the existence of Test cricket, but the custodians of cricket laws, MCC feels it is infact the 50-over game which is in danger of losing its identity and not the five-day format.

The Marylebone Cricket Club said Test cricket has enough takers to coexist with Twenty20 but feels some innovations are indeed required to keep the spectators interested in the format.

"As a purist, I think (Test cricket) is the pinnacle, and for the players it is the pinnacle, so it's important that we preserve it, and the fact is numbers and interest have been reducing. While I don't think for one minute that Test cricket is in danger of dying, I think we need to look ahead and look at innovative ideas," MCC secretary and chief executive Keith Bradshaw said.

"There are enough seats at the table for Test cricket to coexist with Twenty20. I think it is the one-day format that is in danger, and if something is not done to revamp the 50-over game, we could see that either become less attractive or perhaps even die as Twenty20 takes over," he added.

In its bid to make the five-day game more attractive, the MCC has some innovative ideas up its sleeve, including organising neutral matches and hosting day-night Tests.

"At the MCC, we are purists and traditionalists, and we're doing whatever we can to promote Test cricket. We're looking to stage neutral Test matches, we're looking at the concept of day-night Test cricket," Bradshaw was quoted as saying in the 'Herald Sun'.

The MCC had planned to host England and Bangladesh under lights next year at Lords, but the controversial experiment will probably be delayed as the hunt for an appropriate ball continues, the report said.

"The reality is we probably won't go to a day-night Test next year, only because we won't have had time to finish the research on the ball and we won't have had time to do the trial with a county match this year," Bradshaw said.

"I do think it is only something you would do now and again, and England-Bangladesh, to be honest, was an attractive Test because the fact is we won't have huge numbers coming to that match. By having it as a day-night match, we might attract some additional interest," he added.