Despite the rising popularity of limited-over formats and the rise in viewership of Twenty20 Leagues, Test cricket still remains the preferred format for the fans, the MCC World Cricket Committee announced on Saturday (March 9). MCC conducted a survey in more than 100 countries and found that over 86 per cent of fans placed Test cricket ahead of one-day or T20 cricket.

The committee, after it's annual meeting in Bengaluru, announced that more than 13,000 fans were contacted in the survey with the majority of them from England, India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka. One of the key factors resulting in the rise of popularity were the away series wins by teams in the last year. New Zealand's win against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, England's win in Sri Lanka, India's win in Australia and the Sri Lankan whitewash on South African soil have made for gripping viewing. "What we want to make sure is that Test cricket is a priority for every single country. I was staggered by the statistics. Which is great that there is interest in there. I like that because I thought it wasn't that popular," Shane Warne, who was attending his first meeting