With Twenty20 thriving, how do you solve dwindling crowds at Test cricket?

Thrilling Tests in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa suggest the long game is alive and well, but dwindling crowds tell a different story. With Twen

ty20 games well-attended, four Test greats tell Te

legraph Sport what can be done.

Grounds for concern: there were many empty seats at the first Test between England and South Africa at Centurion Photo: AP

Richie Richardson (West Indies) 86 Tests, 1983-95.

There's so much emphasis on Twenty20, but Test cricket is real cricket. All youngsters should aspire to do well in it; only it can develop fully. But you have to keep making changes. People become bored if you don't, especially the younger generation.

As much as I love it, wearing all white looks dated now. I'd like them to wear predominately white, but I'd tinker with the designs.

I'm also open to the idea of four longer days, rather than five. It's still essential that batsmen and bowlers are required to concentrate over long periods of time, though. The great thing about Tests is that one team can dominate for four days, only for the other team to turn it around and win on the last day.

Asif Iqbal, (Pakistan) 58 Tests, 1964-80.

It's a myth that Test cricket is under threat. Just because you don't see big crowds, that doesn't mean people aren't following matches, worldwide, on TV and on the internet. There's still a lot of money coming into it, from TV and sponsorship deals.

I'd like to see students, youngsters and pensioners allowed in for free. Cricket is like showbiz - top players prefer to perform in front of a big crowd.

Farokh Engineer (India) 46 Tests, 1961-75

We need more sporting surfaces, so bowlers get out what they put in. I'd like to see neutrals oversee pitch preparation, with the match referees really earning their wages by deciding if the surfaces are up to scratch. We must also use technology more. Deciding if Ricky Ponting is lbw, for instance, engages the viewers, and Test cricket must be seen to get the big decisions correct – its credibility is on the line.

Ian Healy (Australia) 119 Tests, 1988-99.

Test cricket needs a strong West Indies team – they must build on their improved form in Australia. They need better infrastructures, education, development programmes first-class facilities.

Youngsters should also hit balls from the age of five. I'm not averse to four seven-hour days, and I'd also experiment with day-night Tests. A Championship is a good idea - we need some context for Test cricket. I'm not a fan of too much cricket being played for no good reason.LINK