McCullum afraid of ODIs
Brendon McCullum has warned "one-day cricket is in danger" as an international format.
The New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman believes Test cricket's traditions can withstand the rise of Twenty20 cricket, a form of the game in which he excels.
But even though the International Cricket Council's premier tournament is the 50-overs-a-side World Cup, McCullum fears established one-day cricket may not survive the rise of Twenty20.
"It's a dangerous time for the 50-over format," McCullum told the April edition of the Wisden Cricketer magazine.
"At the moment T20 cricket has captivated a lot of people.
"Test cricket will always stay -- there're too many traditionalists, and it is considered the cream of the crop for most cricketers.
"One-day cricket is in danger."
Following his 56-ball 116 against Australia in the recent T20 international in Christchurch, McCullum does though see some downsides in world cricket's shortest format.
No doubt thinking of the example of New Zealand's Shane Bond and England's Andrew Flintoff, McCullum fears the impressive financial rewards on offer from Twenty20 cricket will deter already injury-hit fast bowlers from putting themselves through the greater physical demands of five-day Test matches if they can still earn good money for much less work.
"The one concern I do have is that genuine fast bowlers around the world will look at the option of four-overs-a-game two or three times a week versus the hard graft of Test match and one-day cricket and decide that four overs is their lot," McCullum said.
"I'm talking about the 150-160 kph bowlers. That would be a shame, because I think there's something incredible about watching raw pace bowl a long spell in a Test."
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