Wisden expresses fears about intl cricket in latest edition

London: Wisden Almanack, regarded as the `the Bible of Cricket`, has expressed serious fears about the future of international cricket in its latest edition and criticised India for the slow death of Test matches.

In its 149th edition, which hits the stands on Thursday, Lawrence Booth, the youngest editor of Wisden at 37, has said that international cricket "stands at a precipice" due to the ever-growing popularity of the Twenty20 format. "Twenty20 is a vital part of a fragile ecosystem. But a playful scrap every few hours can grate, and some administrators appear to be awaiting the second Flood," Booth wrote in the edition. Citing the "prevalence of the two-match (Test) series", Booth says, "the administrators` insistence on Test cricket has been stated so often as to have lost any meaning". He also came hard on the game`s administrators in South Africa, Australia and England but held the Indian officials and the lucrative Indian Premier League responsible for the current state of Test cricket. "Too often their game appears driven by the self-interest of the few. The disintegration of India`s feted batting lineup has coincided with the rise of a Twenty20-based nationalism, the growth of private marketeers and high level conflicts of interest," said Booth in his write-up referring to the IPL. "It is a perfect storm. And the global game sits steadily in the eye. India, your sport needs you." PTI