Cricket: Biff-bang is here to stay, proclaims Snedden

Twenty20 is here to stay - so get used to it. That's the message from New Zealand Cricket boss Martin Snedden, who says he won't apologise for promoting the shortened version of the game, even if it means upsetting the purists.

"Personally, I think test cricket is the highest form of the game, but I'm also running a business," he said.

"If Twenty20 is what the public are telling us they want, we've got to make sure they're catered for.

"I'm certainly not apologising for anything."

New Zealand's test calendar is almost bare, with only three tests scheduled before November next year. Snedden caused some surprise by ceding to weather concerns and Sri Lanka's request to drop one test, opting instead for two Twenty20 internationals.

"They [Sri Lanka Cricket] expressed some concern about three tests, so that's where the conversation started - and this is the end result."

Although extraordinary circumstances led to the dropping of a test, the three-hour format of the game will become more and more a part of the summer.

Snedden said: "As Twenty20 starts to develop, it will become a normal part of international cricket.

"The fact there is now going to be a Twenty20 World Cup next year, repeated regularly, makes it inevitable this form of cricket will consolidate its position in the calendar."

South Africa will host the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in September next year, with 12 countries taking part. "If you look at the reasons for that, the internationals that have been held around the world - including the two we've had - have just about all been sell-outs. The evidence from England and South Africa, in particular, say it's a form of cricket spectators are supporting really strongly.

"Television ratings are significantly greater than for any other form of cricket," he said.

There was a thought that the popularity of the short format in England and South Africa might have had something to do with novelty and it wouldn't take long before interest, and crowds, waned.

"Quite the opposite," Snedden said. "It's built up each year."

There has been consternation from purists that test cricket is being undersold in New Zealand, but Snedden said that this year was merely a "blip".

"In terms of looking forward, this is not a sign of what's to come. From November next year, for the following 54 months, we'll play 48 tests.

"Once we get through this period, the situation gets back to a stage where there is a lot of test cricket being played."

Fixture List

Sri Lanka fixtures:

Nov 30-Dec 3: vs Otago at University Oval
Dec 7 -11: 1st test, Jade Stadium
Dec 15-19: 2nd test, Basin Reserve
Dec 22: 1st Twenty20, Westpac Stadium
Dec 26: 2nd Twenty20, Eden Park
Dec 28: 1st ODI, McLean Park
Dec 31: 2nd ODI, Queenstown Events Centre (provisional)
Jan 2: 3rd ODI, Jade Stadium
Jan 6: 4th ODI, Eden Park
Jan 9: 5th ODI, Seddon Park

Australia fixtures:

Feb 16: 1st ODI, Westpac Stadium
Feb 18: 2nd ODI, Eden Park
Feb 20: 3rd ODI, Seddon Park