The Motera stadium in Ahmedabad has a capacity to hold 55,000 screaming spectators. And the stadium has been choc-a-bloc every time it has staged an international match.

But things have changed now. The first Test between New Zealand and India has seen a woeful complement of spectators. The first day had a paltry crowd of 5,000, Day 2 had around 7,000, Day 3 around 9,000 and, Saturday, Day 4, just 15,000.

A disappointing turnout, despite the fact that the cricket played was attractive. There was a double century by Rahul Dravid and skipper Sourav Ganguly also got a hundred. And the Test is interestingly poised, with a very strong possibility of a result in India's favour.

Has the euphoria of India's success in the one-dayers taken its toll on Test cricket? Should the honour of hosting Tests be given only to metropolitan centres like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai?

The last Test series to be played in India was against the West Indies, almost a year ago. One would have expected the cricket-crazy Indian public to have seized this opportunity to watch its favourite stars in action after such a long gap. But it has not done so.

The authorities say that while a one-dayer would have guaranteed a full house, even a turnout of 25,000 for the Test would have been regarded as very good.

But former India stumper Kiran More, now a member of the selection committee, insists that Test cricket is not on the wane, though he is at a loss to explain the mystery of the missing crowd.

"Crowds in the big centres have been great," says More. "Maybe it is because the Test is being held around the same time as the Durga Puja and Diwali. Or maybe it is just the heat."

College student Vishal definitely thinks that one-day cricket rules the roost. "We only came to the ground because it was a weekend. Test cricket over five days is too long drawn an affair to watch every day. Who has the time? All of us friends were together and we decided to have some fun."

But there are others, like Keshu Patel, who has watched every Test at the ground. "Test cricket is real cricket," says Patel. "You can see the players at their very best during a Test match. All the variations, classical strokes, guts and grit, are on display. You can't get this in a one-dayer."

Patel's view is shared by critics and players alike, who all believe that one-day cricket is no substitute for Test cricket.

Ask any young player who hopes to represent India in cricket and he will tell you that Test cricket is his ultimate goal. Most players consider Test matches the ultimate test of ability while one-dayers are more of a lottery.

Incidentally, there are only two journalists from New Zealand covering the Test series. The reason: the rugby World Cup, coupled with the fact that in the popularity stakes rugby is way ahead of cricket in New Zealand.

But that is not the case in India. Or, is it?