London, July 20 (IANS) The cricketing world is excited to see India and England play the 2000th Test match at Lord's and hopes that the match will live up to the hype.

It will also be the 100th Test between India and England and lot of celebrations have been arranged to mark the momentous occasion.

Australian captain Michael Clarke said it is good advertisement for the longer version that the two powerhouses of the sport are playing the 2000th Test.

"It requires all the skills of the other two forms of the game, but over five days. The physical and mental intensity of a five-day Test makes Test cricket far and away the pinnacle of the game. It is fitting that two powerhouses of cricket are playing at Lord's for the 2000th Test," Clarke was quoted as saying in the Daily Telegraph.

South African captain Graeme Smith voiced a similar view on Twitter. ""2000 Test match coming up! the true form of the game! And there is a great summer of Test cricket to come #lovetestcricket," Smith tweeted.

With Twenty20 cricket fast catching up, Clarke said the game's administrators have to ensure the future of Test cricket.

"Governing bodies must prioritise player performance and payment in Test cricket," he said.

In Australia recently, the state contracts were slashed to finance the expansion of the new eight-team Twenty20 Big Bash. Australia's peripheral One-day and Twenty20 players David Hussey and Cameron White each make more than $1 million in the Indian Premier League (IPL) because they are big hitters.

"The future of Test cricket relies on the investment in continuing to make it the pinnacle of the sport. "I think there needs to be more innovation and entertainment at breaks in the game at Test venues," Clarke said. "It is the toughest form of the game."