By Sudipto Ganguly

MUMBAI, India (Reuters) – Five-day cricket remains the ultimate format for Australia fast-bowling great Glenn McGrath, who believes day-night Tests are the way forward for the format to survive in the age of the shorter Twenty20 version.

The future of the longest format has been the subject of debate since the rise of popular T20 leagues over the last decade coincided with dwindling crowds at Test matches outside cricket hotbeds Australia and England.

Officials view day-night Tests as having the potential to reverse the trend.

“I am a big fan of Test cricket, to me Test cricket is still the ultimate and we’ve got to keep the game fresh, people enjoying it,” McGrath told reporters after a Tourism Australia event to attract more Indian visitors.

“T20 has taken the world by storm: it is bringing a lot more people to cricket and that is brilliant. Hopefully that will filter into Test cricket.”

The International Cricket Council (ICC), the sport’s world governing body, is also set to discuss the idea of reducing Test matches by a day to free up a crowded international calendar.