Cricket Australia chief executive officer James Sutherland has pushed for the introduction of the Test (iharnpionship after the end of the current Future Tours Programme (FIT). In his address to the International Cricket Council (ICC) Members' Porum, he also stressed the need to ensure that the I\venty20 format "complements, and not compromises" international cricket.

"Let's face it, generally speak ing, the FTP is currently a hotchpotch of bilateral tour arrangements that, given the current volume of international cricket, produces matches that no longer linger in the memory or have lasting meaning," Jie said.

Cricket Australia stated that the championship, leading to semifinals and a final, and a world chain ■ pion in each four-year cycle, would provide the context which Test cricket currently lacked.

While T\venty20 is proving to be immensely popular and lucrative, Sutherland emphasised the importance of international cricket. "It is not

only our foundation, but for all rnem -bers, possibly with the exception of India, we couldn't survive without it. International cricket is our lifeblood... we compromise it at our peril.

"To that end, Twenty20cricket... whether it is 1PL, Champions T20, Pro20, I hc Big Bash, whatever ... Twenly20 must be designed, structured and promoted so as to complement, not compromise, international cricket."

Sutherland also warned that the introduction of private ownership of teams - like in the IPL — will also provide challenges to international cricket. "Given the significance of IPL and its relationship with the BCCI, it is not unreasonable for us all to expect that IPL will seek to preserve and protect international cricket on behalf of all ICC members."

He also said that international cricket's success depended on all three of its formats being in good shape. "Unfortunately, in my view, there is currently too much talk of ODI cricket as the problem child or the ugly duckling The financial success of the modern game has been built on ODI cricket,” he said. ”We owe it to ourselves to ensure that ODI cricket continues to be a popular force in the game.”