FORMER Australia paceman Jason Gillespie believes Test cricket is on its last legs and has labelled Indian cricket chief Lalit Modi a menace to the game.

“Test cricket is in trouble, there’s no doubt about that,” Gillespie said after returning from the rebel Indian Cricket League.

“I can see a time where countries will be bypassing Test cricket altogether.

“With more Twenty20 leagues, it will go the way where representing your country will take a back seat. For Australian and English players it will always be the pinnacle, but I’m not sure it’s the pinnacle for any other countries. All other countries don’t see Test cricket as the be all and end all anymore.”

Gillespie also slammed Cricket Australia, believing it doesn’t have the courage to stand up to Modi’s bullying, and won’t act to salvage the long-term future of the sport.

Banned from first-class cricket in Australia after signing a three-year deal with the non-ICC sanctioned Indian Cricket League, Gillespie believes Cricket Australia has deserted some of the nation’s finest players in favour of propping up its relationship with the self-serving Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

“Unfortunately they’ll side with (India’s) board rather than support players like ‘Kasper’ (Michael Kasprowicz) and myself, who’ve played for our country for many years,” Gillespie said.

“They’re far too worried about the ramifications of not being nice to the BCCI, that’s all they’re worried about and it’s a joke.

“They’ve basically said ‘no, we don’t want you’. Cricket Australia are only concerned about their relationship with the BBCI.”