Former Blackcaps captain Brendon McCullum says test cricket is dying due to the rising popularity of shorter formats.
McCullum has a rich test cricket history, playing 101 long-format matches for New Zealand before retiring in 2016. He sits second in the all-time run-scoring list for Kiwis in test cricket, and is the only Blackcaps batsman to score a triple-century.
The 36-year-old is still playing cricket, but as a Twenty20 (T20) globetrotter playing in numerous leagues around the world. Right now he is playing with the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League.
In an interview with Cricket Monthly, McCullum said T20 cricket is the way of the future and doesn't see one at all for the five-day format.
"I firmly believe that Test cricket won't be around in time, because there's only so many teams that can afford to play it," he said.
"I'm also a realist that people are turning up and watching T20 not just at games but also on TV - society's changing, isn't it?
"People don't have four or five days to commit to test cricket. They might watch the first session, and the last session on day five if it's tight… then you strip it back a level as well, and you think domestically, how can teams around the world afford to even exist?"
"Long long-term, I see a T20 franchise as owning players, and I don't see them releasing those players to play for their nation in a test match."
In the current season of the IPL McCullum has been low-key, with 127 runs from six games at a strike rate of 144.31, He thinks has another couple of years of top T20 cricket in him.
"I'm invigorated by it, to be honest, the way I'm hitting the ball. So I'll do that, and then I'd like to transition into some coaching stuff because I think the IPL - especially in T20 of 300-and-something games - is quite valuable. And also I like the idea that I can help people."
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