IPL biggest threat to international cricket, say Oz fans

Melbourne, Nov.25 (ANI): Australian cricket fans are worried that the billion-dollar Indian Premier League (IPL) will emerge as the biggest threat to the health of international cricket in the near future.

Participating in a survey, they surprisingly also supported the one-day international format, but were against Twenty20 cricket taking over, reports the Daily Telegraph.

The fans also branded Michael Clarke Australia's most overrated player and called for national selection chairman Andrew Hilditch to be sacked.

The Daily Telegraph survey of more than 3500 people shows that fans are not sold on the flashy vice-captain, despite his performance in the Ashes, when he was the top run scorer with 448 at 64.

Seventy three percent of them said Australia's controversial chairman of selectors Hilditch should be shown the door.

Most said Hilditch has made some bewildering decisions, and only a mere 17 per cent believed he should stay in the job.

Coach Tim Nielsen also copped a spray from fans with less than half sure that he is the right man for generational change.

The wide-ranging fan survey also revealed:

Veteran batsman Mike Hussey should not retire from Test cricket with an overwhelming majority of fans supporting him;

Injury-plagued former spearhead Brett Lee is on the nose with 52 per cent of fans claiming he is finished as a Test cricketer.

Only 19 per cent of Australians believe international cricketer of the year Mitchell Johnson is the world's best Test bowler.

Fans believe young gun Phillip Hughes was harshly treated when he was axed during the Ashes series. (ANI)