Former New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman Brendon McCullum believes that Test cricket will succumb to the powers of T20 cricket. 

In an interview with the Cricket Monthly, McCullum said: ‘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.’ 

The former New Zealand skipper, who retired from international duty in 2016, is currently plying his trade in T20 leagues all around the world – IPL, the BBL, the CPL, the PSL and the BPL. 

Although he has a massive love for the longest format, he believes people have to be realistic about the direction it is heading. 

‘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. If you strip it back a level as well, and you think domestically, how can teams around the world afford to even exist?’ 

McCullum is second on the all-time run-scorers’ list in T20s, with over 9,000 runs, behind Chris Gayle. 

‘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,’ said McCullum. 

‘I don’t buy that you need residual [Test match] skills to be able to then transfer into T20. To me, they’re played with the same instruments but they’re completely separate games. I think once we do separate it even more, then the skill level of T20 cricket will go to a whole new level altogether.’

McCullum’s current season for RCB in the IPL has been sub-par – 127 runs in six games at a strike rate of 144.31.