Former England [Images] captain David Gower sees Test cricket under absoloutely no threat from the Indian Premier League.  

Speaking to the Independent, London [Images], the player-turned-cricket broadcaster said though Twenty20 is here to stay, "six weeks'  razzle-dazzle is not enough to consign over a hundred years of Test cricket to the dump".

• IPL Paisa Vasool Index:

"You must be off your rocker. Twenty20 is here to stay and will energise the game around the world, but players, however grateful for IPL and, in the future, EPL cash, still know that they will be judged by their record as Test players," he said.

Asked whether the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) should allow England players a crack at the IPL next year, he replied, "The ECB might well make some concessions to their contracted players re the IPL, but a lot depends on how plans for an EPL develop. Until those are clear we need to hold fire."

Gower said England are clear favourites for the upcoming series against New Zealand [Images], "having rediscovered the winning habit in the nick of time in New Zealand". New Zealand, he added, "will be reliant on the usual few".

"England should be thinking in terms of a clean sweep, but who knows what the weather gods have in store?"