T20 could eradicate Test cricket, says Buttler

Sydney, February 13: Twenty20 could wipe out Test and one-day internationals and become cricket's sole format in the future, according to England's Jos Buttler.

Buttler has been a vital part of England's revival in the limited-over game, the 27-year-old averaging 37.63 in ODIs and 26.62 in T20Is.

So destructive and explosive is Buttler he has become a big draw in the T20 leagues, fetching just under £500,000 in the Indian Premier League draw when he was bought by Rajasthan Royals – having previously represented the Mumbai Indians.

That spell comes after scoring 202 runs in six games for the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League, the tournament played in front of huge crowds.

And that is something that Buttler believes could see T20 take over the cricketing world.

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"I feel cricket could become a one-format game in the future – whether that's soon or in 15 to 20 years," he told Sky Sports.

"Test cricket is still, for me, the pinnacle of cricket but T20 fills out stadiums and is easy to keep up with a follow.

"Everyone wants things faster these days and things evolve, so maybe Twenty20 could have a monopoly on cricket.

"We all love the history of Test cricket – you will never have situations thrown up in T20 that Test cricket can do to you and you will never be tested as a player as you would in Test cricket.

"It's a complete test of everything and it would be sad (if it went), but as a product T20 is going from strength to strength.

"Hopefully the administrators can find a way of making the Test game more popular - it's awesome and I'd love to be playing in it."

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Buttler's Test career has failed to flourish, though, with only 18 caps to his name having fallen behind Jonny Bairstow as England's wicketkeeper.

"[Not making the Ashes squad] was a wake-up call that I have slipped down the ladder in red-ball cricket and white-ball cricket is obviously my strength," he added.

"I thought if I'm serious about playing red-ball cricket I could give up the white-ball stuff for two years and spend winters playing red ball, but I feel like there are too many opportunities to go down that route."

Source: OPTA