MELBOURNE, Dec 7: Former right-arm pacer Jason Gillespie has accused Cricket Australia of not supporting its players as the Board officials are too occupied maintaining their cordial relationship with their Indian counterparts.

Gillespie, who was banned from first-class cricket after signing a three-year deal with the ‘rebel’ Indian Cricket League, termed CA’s stand to always abide by the Board of Control for Cricket in India as a big “joke”.

”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.

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

With the escalating number of Twenty20 leagues, Gillespie believes it is just a matter of time before countries completely shun playing the longest version of the game. “Test cricket is in trouble, there’s no doubt about that,” Gillespie said. “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.”

—Agencies