Melbourne: Australia’s legendary leg-spin bowler Shane Warne feels that test cricket may soon die if the ICC and other cricketing boards don’t take some immediate steps to inject some life into it and save it from extinction.

The Rajasthan Royals captain said that Test cricket would always be the first priority of any cricketer but if we are to save the longest and the oldest version of the game then the ICC needs to take responsibility and take proactive steps to promote the game.

“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, when test cricket started, the longest version of the game has been the pinnacle for every cricketer. But with the advent and growing popularity of Twenty20, test cricket is now fighting a battle for survival.

The 40-year-old Victorian was also very open with his views on 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.

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