KP calls for heftier contracts to revive dwindling Test format

Former England skipper Kevin Pietersen has called on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to come up with heftier Test contract if they want to see star players opting for their national side rather than playing in lucrative Twenty20 leagues.

The 35-year-old, who was extremely disappointed to see big players preferring T20 leagues instead of their national side, insisted that there was an immediate need to do something in order to keep the Test cricket alive, the Sydney morning Herald reported.

Pietersen, who is currently playing for the Melbourne Stars in the BBL, opined that players would return to the Test cricket only if they would be offered more money than they receive for playing in T20 tournaments like the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Big Bash League.

Pietersen's comments came in the wake of West Indies star players like Chris Gayle, Keiron Pollard, Samuel Badree, Darren Sammy, Andre Russell and Dwayne Bravo opting to play in the BBL rather than representing their nation.

Meanwhile, the national side struggled to compete against Australia and are trailing 0-2 in the three-match series. They suffered a 177-run loss in the second Test in Melbourne.

With the defeat, West Indies have also extended their winless streak in Test series against Australia to 23 years.