Australia, June24: Test legend Dennis Lillee has accused the game's world governing body of putting profits ahead of the credibility of the game. Lillee believes the forthcoming Australia v Bangladesh series will be a total mis-match. And the former fast bowler was also against the inclusion of non-Test playing nations in the recent World Cup. Writing in the West Australian newspaper, he said: "I'm not against progress, but involving struggling countries in quality events such as the World Cup and Tests simply makes a mockery of records. "It became obvious to me, after watching the World Cup one-day contest earlier this year and the indifferent performances from some teams, that the game is degenerating into a money-driven event because of television.

"Is the ICC more concerned about keeping Test cricket elite, or developing the game purely to maximise TV revenue without the slightest concern about compromising the structure and history of the game?"

Lillee's comments came only a day after former Australian team-mate Rodney Hogg urged the International Cricket Council to allow the weaker Test nations to field 'guest' overseas players.

But Lillee favours a two-tier Test Championship, with runs scored and wickets taken by Second Division nations count as first-class statistics, but are not included in Test records.

"A promotion and relegation system along those lines would keep all Test playing aspirants honest and ensure Test statistics remained credible," he said.

"Nobody worked harder than Courtney Walsh for his world record 519 wickets, but he is going to be absolutely swamped because of what's up for grabs these days." Bangladesh have lost 18 of their 19 Tests, 13 of them by an innings. They will play two Tests in Australia, the first starting in Darwin on 18 July.

Bureau Report