Test cricket faces an uncertain future and the sport’s ruling body has done a good job of devaluing the traditional form of the game, former Australia skipper Ian Chappell said.

Concerns have been raised over the classical five-day game as it struggles to counter the rapid rise in popularity of the Twenty20 format, especially with the launch of the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) last year.

Chappell, now a television commentator, blamed the packed international calendar for the situation, dubbing it a “jigsaw puzzle with many missing pieces.”

“Ever since T20 burst onto the international scene, there have been rumblings about the death of Test cricket,” he wrote in a column in the Hindustan Times on Monday.

“The main barriers to improving the image of Test cricket have been erected by the ICC (International Cricket Council) itself,” he said. “It has done the most to devalue Test cricket.”

He attacked the scheduling of back-to-back Tests, due to a busy calendar. “Those competing in all forms not only face an increased risk of injury but also have to prioritise their exertion levels.

“The latter could be a clue to the lack of genuine fast bowlers in the game.”

Last year, the ICC raised concerns over poor crowd figures during Australia’s Test tour of India, while president David Morgan has said the body is considering four-day Tests as part of innovations to keep the form of the game exciting to fans.

“Diminishing crowds at Tests in all countries barring England and Australia is a worry,” Chappell said.

“Adding to those concerns, West Indies are in disarray and Pakistan is a no-go area.”

Rudi Koertzen, who on Thursday became only the second umpire to officiate in 100 Tests, said Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara are the two cricketers he has highest regard for.

Less than a week after becoming the first umpire to stand in 200 One-Day Internationals, Koertzen on Thursday became the only person after Steve Bucknor to officiate in 100 Tests by taking the field in the second Ashes Test at Lord’s.

Looking back on his career, the 60-year-old South African said he was fortunate to have seen Tendulkar and Lara bat from close quarters.

“I have been fortunate and privileged to have seen some of the greatest modern day cricketers very closely. It would be unfair to pin-point one or two players but I have to name Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar for whom I have the greatest respect and I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing them bat,” he said.

“They had amazing reflexes and used to pick up the ball as soon as it left the bowler’s hand which helped them make batting look very graceful and elegant due to their superb timing, excellent footwork, ability to hit the gaps and score runs off good balls. While Sachin continues to delight us with his batting, it was sad to see retire Brian in 2007,” Koertzen said.

“I don’t think you can replace batsmen like Sachin and Brian in a day or two. The batsmen of these qualities and class are born in years and we are so fortunate to have seen them when they were at their brilliant best,” he added.

Koertzen, who made his international debut in December 1992 in a match between South Africa and India in Port Elizabeth, said he was still keen on improving.

“Obviously you feel proud when you know that among a galaxy of quality umpires you are only the second to complete century of Tests and the first to stand in 200 ODIs. But it was never a target that I had set for myself after making my first-class debut in 1981,” he said.

“I still have the fire in my belly to improve, umpire in more matches and continue to enjoy the sport which has given me respect and recognition,” said Koertzen, who also stood in the Super Series Test between Australia and the ICC World XI in Sydney in October 2005.

Koertzen singled out Adam Gilchrist for “the most ruthless display of stroke-play” when he scored 204 against South Africa at The Wanderers in February 2002.

Among the bowlers, he named Shane Warne as the stand out bowler while expressing his admiration for fast bowlers like Glenn McGrath and Allan Donald.

“He (Warne) used to get the best out of the umpires by putting a lot of pressure on them. On numerous occasions, he bowled from my end and I have always found him testing my decision-making,” Koertzen said.

On the present health of the game, Koertzen said, “I think cricket has never been healthier and it is all due to the fact that it is in very safe and capable hands. It is the only sport that offers three excellent formats which give options to everyone to go and enjoy.

“We are also embracing technology at the right time, after extensive research and considerable debate. The Umpire Decision Review System, which is being rolled out in Tests from 1 October, is an excellent initiative and will help the umpires to make more correct decisions which are already in mid-90s percentage-wise,” he added.

To make Test matches more competitive, ICC’s general manager for cricket Dave Richardson on Thursday suggested a two-tier structure for the longer version of the game.

“It’s an important point that Test cricket should be played against teams that are at least competitive with each other,” Richardson said.

Richardson feels the ICC could think about a second tier intercontinental tournament, consisting the lesser competitive sides to improve the standard of contest.

“Ideally, you want to have the top teams playing against each other, and then teams of lesser standing playing against each other, maybe in a second division or a lesser competition such as the Intercontinental Cup.

“I think that’s the challenge for the ICC, that it can create some sort of context for Test cricket both at the higher level and at levels below that,” Richardson said.

The comments came a day after former Australia stumper Adam Gilchrist suggested that lesser number of matches with better quality might be the way forward for the Tests.

After a number of trials in past few months, the International Cricket Council has finally decided to roll out the umpire referral system in Tests from October.

The ICC Board, on it first day of meeting at Lord’s, also decided to double the fine for slow over-rates besides agreeing to trial day/night Test cricket provided several crucial factors related to it were addressed.

“The Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) should be rolled out in Test cricket from October 2009,” said an ICC statement after the first day of the ICC Board meeting last night.

ICC President David Morgan said the Cricket Committee received the draft of Futures Tour Programme post-2012 which would be refined by the ICC and Members nations.

“I am encouraged by the hard and effective work put in by Members towards a long-term structure for international cricket,” he said.

“It is vitally important that this framework is put in place to create certainty for our Members, as well as other key stakeholders, including players, broadcasters and the public.

“We will work with our Members in refining the draft model over the coming weeks, consult with those stakeholders and seek approval of a new programme as soon as possible,” he added.

The current FTP concludes in May 2012 and the draft proposals for a new programme was made following bi-lateral and multi-lateral discussions between Members ahead of the meeting.

On the issue of slow over-rates, the ICC said fines imposed under the Code of Conduct be doubled and captain of a side guilty of three over-rate fines in the same format of the game in a rolling 12-month period should be automatically banned for one match.

The ban will be applicable in the next match played by his side in that same format.

It also said members should be far more diligent in ensuring delays within their control, such as sightscreen issues, are minimised, team over-rates (including permitted allowances) are displayed on scoreboards to ensure everyone was aware of the situation at all times.

The ICC agreed to explore the possibility of day/night Test cricket but said factors like successful trials of an appropriate ball; research on whether or not it was what stakeholders want; and successful trials at first-class level should be addressed.

“Providing these factors could be satisfactorily addressed over the coming months then the Cricket Committee agreed the concept could be explored further,” the ICC statement said.

“This could involve the committee receiving an update at the start of 2010 ahead of an update to the CEC and, if appropriate, a day/night Test could be trialled later that year,” it said.

Among other decisions the ICC ruled that stricter penalties should be imposed on Boards and venues found guilty of producing pitches considered “poor” or “unfit”.

It was also agreed the term “poor” would include batsmen-friendly “featherbed” surfaces which, it was felt, were a serious threat to the game.

The committee also decided that play should only be suspended for bad light when umpires considered conditions unreasonable or dangerous (rather than as is currently the case, unsuitable) and that the umpires would make that decision rather than offer the batsmen the option to choose.

Pakistan captain Younus Khan urged his team on Tuesday to take the form they showed in winning the Twenty20 World Cup into the Test and 50 overs arenas.

Younus was mobbed by hundreds of fans at Karachi airport on Tuesday after returning from London. The remainder of the team landed earlier in Lahore.

“I was always confident we could win this tournament once we started winning matches and got into a momentum. Our nation deserved a feel good moment in these hard times,” Younus told reporters.

“We need to show the same consistency and the same winning mentality in other forms of the sport. My dream is to see Pakistan cricket at the top in Test and One-day cricket as well.”

Pakistan beat Sri Lanka in the final at Lord’s on Sunday, setting off a wave of celebrations in their troubled nation.

Younus credited his team’s win to his own change in attitude during the tournament.

“I realized that I had to be dead serious as captain and senior player because T20 cricket is one of the most demanding forms of the sport. It saps the energy in just 40 overs,” he said.

“This win is very important for us because it gives our cricket a big boost at a time when people were losing interest in the sport with teams not visiting Pakistan.”

In Lahore, hundreds of drum beating and flag waving fans returned home disappointed after they were unable to welcome the team because of tight security at the Allama Iqbal airport. The players were whisked away through a side entrance.

“We feel sorry for our fans who prayed for our success and they couldn’t see us. But we had to follow the advice of the security personal,” coach Intikhab Alam said.

Police officials said they believed it would be a security risk to bring out the players from the main lounge.

Militants have carried out several suicide bomb attacks in Lahore in the past few months and the Sri Lankan team were attacked in March while on their way from their hotel to the Gaddafi stadium to play a Test match.