Test cricket needs good pitches, not championship: Ponting

Australian captain Ricky Ponting has shot down proposal for a World championship of Test cricket and said five-day game is losing its charm because of detracting nature of wickets worldwide.

He believes administrators would be better served improving state of world's pitches than introducing a world championship of Test cricket.

"I just think Test cricket is probably not as exciting anymore because of wickets that we are playing on," Ponting was quoted as saying in Sydney Morning Herald.

He was visibly upset with pitch in Antigua in second Test against West Indies and is adamant that a move away from flat batting surfaces would do more to enhance game than a new programme and trophy.

"People would rather watch a game in Perth as they would in Antigua. There's much more happening. There's more bouncers, more batsmen ducking, weaving, sometimes falling on their backsides, more catches behind wicket, more hook shots. That is sort of Test cricket that we all grew up watching and enjoying.'

International Cricket Council says it was discussing idea of a world championship of Test cricket. The proposed championship would differ from current Future Tours Programme in that it would award points for each match, with a trophy to be presented to top-ranked side at end of each four-year-cycle.

"Some of wickets we play on around the world are just too flat, too placid. That's what I would be saying to all authorities around the world: Let's just try and do something with wickets. If it means digging them up and relaying them then let's try it."

Ponting doubted whether a world championship of Test cricket would have much traction with public. "You're playing for a trophy every series you play. It doesn't matter if it's at end of two or three or four years, there are trophies on line every series. We've got to look at other smaller ways, I think. But let's just see how this all pans out. Hopefully something very good comes of all talks they have."