Barry Richards has suggested that cricket authorities should consider awarding a bonus element for entertainment value in a bid to preserve the sport in the 21st century. In the annual Cowdrey Lecture, delivered at Lord's on Monday evening, Richards, one of the greatest opening batsmen in the game's history, addressed the question of how cricket can make itself "sustainable", and satisfy "a generation raised on sensation".

"Cricket is in danger of not adapting fast enough," Richards said. "There's a great publication - the Wisden cricket magazine. But how many people under 30 read it?"

Richards said that cricket still had enough to attract spectators - "There are still few more thrilling sights in sport than a sparkling Tendulkar cover-drive, a Lara pull, or a Trescothick hook" - but that more needed to be done to generate interest among younger fans.

"We have to create opportunities whereby youngsters can experience [cricket] in the context of their own lifestyles and in the time they are given," he said. "So I welcome the 20-overs games.

"To those who fear our more orthodox top players could have their game damaged, I would point to rugby sevens; these increasingly feature a separate set of players with special skills and are marketed differently and often attract a new following."

Richards also suggested that more radical ideas should be given serious consideration. His suggestions included: a bonus element for fielding, an adaptation of the scoring system to incorporate a bonus element for entertainment - and downgrading the importance of averages. "This is a game overwhelmed by stats," Richards said. "Yet do they tell the whole story?"

Richards cited the modern game's premier entertainer, Adam Gilchrist, as an example of somebody who plays the game fearlessly and without consideration of his personal statistics - the sort of approach that will reel more youngsters in.

"It is the Gilchrists who will bring the young back to the game," Richards said. "It's about attitude. The fact is he doesn't care what the record books show; he wants to play with flair and win the match."

Click the links on the left-hand side of this page for an audio recording of the full lecture, plus comments from Barry Richards and Ted Dexter on video

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd