Former champion West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding has launched a ferocious attack on plans to adopt Twenty20 cricket into international competition.

Holding, who is now a respected television pundit, has branded New Zealand’s decision to host the first Twenty20 international, against Australia in Auckland on Thursday, as "bull-s—-" and "a waste of time".

Having recently worked for Australian television during the one-day tri-nations series, Holding refused to watch the Twenty20 match between Australia A and Pakistan in Adelaide a few weeks ago.

The day/night fixture was a sell-out, with unprecedented levels of interest in the 20-over slog-fest. Holding said he had nothing but contempt for the idea that Twenty20 cricket could revive one-day cricket and help revolutionise the ailing limited-overs game.

"Twenty20 cricket is bull-s—-," Holding said. "What is the point of telling youngsters to watch the game but not to copy the players’ techniques? It is not cricket and is a total waste of time.

"It might have a place in domestic cricket to increase crowds but should never be introduced in international cricket. I have told Sky Television in the UK that I don’t want to commentate on Twenty20 matches.

"In fact, I don’t want anything to do with Twenty20 cricket, full stop. I can’t understand why New Zealand and other countries want to adopt it as a new competition. The idea is crap and it’s all bulls—-."

Holding’s criticism aside, the bold innovation already has proved to be a hit in county cricket and domestic cricket in South Africa. In England, off-field entertainment, including pop bands, jacuzzis and fireworks, have drawn the crowds - even the home of cricket, Lord’s, was sold out for a Twenty20 match between Middlesex and Surrey last year.

And the possibilities for further innovation beyond free-hits and field restrictions are endless, which is also adding to the unprecedented interest in Twenty20 cricket.

But Holding will never be convinced. "Twenty20 cricket is no good for the game because it encourages batsmen and bowlers to play in the wrong way," Holding said. "Youngsters need to learn good techniques - they cannot do that by watching rubbish. There is nothing good about Twenty20 cricket. People who disagree don’t know what they are talking about."

Meanwhile, Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland, who is supporting the introduction of Twenty20 into Australia’s domestic and international schedule, insists there is nothing his organisation can do to help other countries improve their standards.

Australia has remained unbeaten in Test series on home soil since 1993, establishing a complete domination of world cricket that, for many, has made international competition too predictable.

The Black Caps, for one, were beaten 2-0 in November but Sutherland rejects any notion of a crisis in the standard of NZ or world cricket as whole.

He said: "Why should we be worried about the standards of New Zealand or other international teams? Shall we let our standards drop so other teams can catch up?