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Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton discuss future of Test cricket

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Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain give their views on the future of Test cricket, with less focus on bilateral series

Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain joined Ian Ward to discuss the future of Test cricket and a possible two-tier system.

Speaking about where the game might be heading in years to come, Atherton suggested it follow a similar path to football with stronger club sides and international matches - especially one-day games - restricted largely to tournaments.

"I think probably down the line there will be less international cricket and the majority of international cricket you will see in one-day terms will come under the umbrella of a world event - a World Cup, World T20, knockout-type tournament," he said.

"I expect there will be fewer bilateral series and what you'll see instead of that will be a growth in domestic cricket. Down the line, I envisage cricket being a little more like football, where club games are stronger and well-supported and international games come under the umbrella of a tournament."

As for the potential for a league system in Test cricket, Hussain argued in favour of it due to a growing number of one-sided games and home advantage playing a huge part in results.

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"I think we're getting more mismatches than we ever used to," he explained. "Especially with what's happening in T20 with the IPL. A lot of the West Indies boys have gone off and they were playing domestic T20 but not for their international side, so some Test match teams are being weakened more than others.

"You have to do something about home and away too, I believe. I think there seems to be an unfair advantage to home sides."

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Click play on the video above to hear more from Atherton and Hussain on how they see things changing in cricket in future.

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