Writing in the April issue of Wisden Cricketer magazine, Bradshaw said Test cricket will have to work alongside rather than against Twenty20 for its well being besides voicing the need to address the unfair favour to batsmen in the longest format of the game.

“There is a real danger the format (Test cricket) could become the preserve of four or five countries unless efforts are made to reinstate a fairer balance between bat and ball, to work alongside rather than against Twenty20 competitions to ensure players do not have to choose between playing for their country and their club, and to attract new audiences,” Bradshaw wrote for the magazine which would celebrate Sachin Tendulkar’s historic ODI double century against South Africa by featuring the India star on its front cover.

“I consider myself optimistic but it isn’t difficult to look ahead and see the pessimists’ apocalyptic version of the future of the game, where Tests are virtually redundant, Twenty20 saturates and players are globe-trotting mercenaries,” he said.

He said while Test cricket remains the pinnacle of the game, its position should not be taken for granted and administrators will have to work with Twenty20.

“We have a warped sense of the well-being of Tests in England because they attract good crowds. We know several players have already forgone playing Tests to prolong more lucrative Twenty20 careers.

“But I believe the more covert long-term problem will be that young players will be schooled purely in the Twenty20 game and be unable to adapt to the demands of cricket played over three, four and five days.

“The transition from Test to Twenty20 cricket is much easier than the other way round and the result could be far fewer players capable of playing five-day cricket,” he said.

Bradshaw felt there was nothing wrong in the expansion of cricket’s frontiers to earlier unknown countries through Twenty20.

“Twenty20 could sound the death knell for Test cricket but it could also prove to be the perfect vehicle for the expansion of the game into other countries. The shorter the game, the greater the leveler and Twenty20 is an excellent pathway into the elite fold – just think of the fairy-tale qualification of Afghanistan for this year’s World Twenty20.

“I firmly believe the next big step will be the growth of cricket in the United States and it’s not unrealistic to think there could be 20 countries capable of playing competitive Twenty20 cricket within the next five years – surely something to celebrate,” he said.

“I think Twenty20 cricket applies more pressure on the players. It is at par with Test cricket simply because in T20s it is a real battle of wits – as a batsman it is against the bowler and if you are a bowler then it is against the batsman,” Gilchrist said.

“…it is like a game where whoever blinks first could end up paying the ultimate price. There is just no time to make a mistake. In a Test match, if you make a mistake you get time and the opportunity to resurrect. I think that is the beauty of the game. It can be played in different formats but the basic constituents of the game remain the same,” he added.

The retired Australian wicket-keeper-batsman led his team into the Indian Premier League finals with a breathtaking 35-ball 85 in the semis against Delhi Daredevils on Friday night.

Gilchrist said with 15 years of international experience he should have finished off the game for Deccan with a hundred.

“It is surely disappointing to get out before the break. I should have seen the side home. You think after 15 years of international cricket you would have learnt something for sure, apparently not,” he said.

Deccan had not beaten Delhi before last night in the IPL and Gilchrist said it was quite a relief to finally outsmart the team, which led the standings during the league stage.

“We had not beaten Delhi Daredevils in the tournament so far. So, it is good to get the monkey off your back. Obviously it was disappointing to lose last night,” he said.

Asked what he told his players before the semifinal, Gilchrist said, “I told them what happens in the tournament is the most important thing in their life. And when they field, it is their next delivery that is the most important moment of their lives because whatever you are doing at that moment is important.”

“We came in as the underdogs and here we are in the final. All I can think as of now is that we will enjoy tonight our win.”

Gilchrist said he was happy that the players were responding to what he was telling them.

“We have encouraged each of our players to work hard and they have done that – they have responded.

“It is pretty basic stuff but the way we were last in the table we had to really get back to the basics and try to build our foundation. The players have responded well and they now believe that they can compete at this level,” he said.

On Matthew Hayden’s recent comments that retirement has helped him do well in IPL, Gilchrist said he wouldn’t advice any youngster to give up international cricket for T20.

“I have enjoyed my days as international cricketer. I wouldn’t suggest the young guys to retire and play IPL but I would say that there is room for IPL if you have got the passion and love for the game,” he said.