Ex-New Zealand head coach Mike Hesson gave his vote of confidence to next year's inaugural Test Championship on Monday, November 12, saying that the two-year long marquee event can actually help sustain the traditional format of the game in contemporary world, where the red-ball cricket struggles to attract viewership across platforms.

The ICC Test Championship will see nine of the 12 Test nations (excluding newcomers Ireland and Afghanistan, as well as Zimbabwe) play six series over two years – three home and three away - in a league format before a final in June 2021.

"Test cricket will survive as long as there is context. The World Test Championship is critical to its survival," Hesson was quoted saying on a StarSports show, "If there is no context to matches and they just operate bilateral tours in isolation, then the relevancy will disappear over time," but he reiterated, "People are getting scared that Test cricket is disappearing, but I think that’s not the case. There is still a high level of interest."

"With the World Test Championship, you know that you play eight Tests over a two-year period. Players love playing Test cricket and playing for their country, but if you add context, that leads towards a points table or final or whatever, then it has so much more meaning," the 44-year-old explained.

Hesson, who was recently appointed head coach of IPL franchise Kings XI Punjab for leagues' 2019 edition, also talked about his latest assignment and responsibility and said, "It has been a big month and I am trying to get started for the auction in a few weeks’ time. Getting to know the team around Kings XI Punjab has been an important part of the last couple of weeks. I am doing some scouting and running some trials. I have enjoyed it."

"Every year the skills the bowlers bring are different. Last year we saw the knuckle ball for the first time. Before that we saw the slower bouncer. Every year we see bowlers coming up with different initiatives," he signed off.

(Inputs from PTI)