MELBOURNE, Dec 20: Former Australia captain Greg Chappell has warned that Test cricket is in "serious trouble" because of deteriorating standards of players around the world and ever-widening gap between Australia and their opponents.

In the wake of Pakistan's 491-run loss to Australia in Perth - during which they were bowled out in second innings in little more than a session - debate has raged about the game's long-term health at elite level.

Since 1999, when Steve Waugh took over captaincy, Australia have notched 50 Test wins (with just 11 losses). The next best in that time are England (32 wins, 21 losses) and South Africa (31 and 14), while Bangladesh remain without a Test win.

But ease with which Ricky Ponting's team brushed aside New Zealand and Pakistan in past month suggests Australia's superiority is becoming even more pronounced, and Chappell believes it is time administrators acted to save the game. "The game is in serious trouble," Chappell said. "I know some administrators are very concerned about it and some are sitting back rather complacent about it." -PPI