BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC

West Indies coach John Dyson does not feel Test cricket is under threat from the Twenty20 version of the game.

Speaking ahead of the first Twenty20 International in the Caribbean, Dyson said he would like to see the traditional game maintained.

"Test cricket has been around for a long time. Despite the fact that the crowds are not as they used to be, there is still a lot of interest in Test cricket. I hope that the game continues," Dyson told reporters.

"It is a fantastic game, but there are other forms of the game that are exciting. They meet the needs of the viewing public.

"They are forms of the game that can be enjoyed by both players and spectators. There is a place for all of them."

The Twenty20 game, which was introduced in recent years, is enjoying widespread popularity.

The fast-paced nature of the game, its relatively short time span of three hours, and its other attractions, including other forms of entertainment, are especially popular among the younger generation and females.