NZ ... get minimal interest in test cricket from majority of sports fans
I can't speak for other countries, but this simply isn't the case here in NZ. There's plenty of interest in tests (media coverage, cultural and general awareness, social and 'water cooler' discussion, etc) and attendance is generally good.
What is obvious is that all sports in this country have suffered a decline in live audiences in the last 10-15 years. Even the mighty Rugby Union used to be able to rely on full houses at domestic games but now can only really bank on bumper crowds at marquee tests against the likes of Australia or South Africa.
The reasons for this are many, but the biggest factors are likely that people have to work long hours these days and in their free time can choose from easier, cheaper entertainment options such as ********* TV. Adding the cost of tickets and concessions, cold and characterless stadia, overbearing security and piped-in 'atmosphere' no doubt doesn't help.
These are problems for all forms of cricket. Although day/night tests may seem like a panacea, it will be interesting to see if attendances can be sustained once the novelty wears off. T20 already seems to be seeing declines and even well-attended matches have nothing on the old packed houses of the 80s and 90s.
I'm skeptical of the idea that test cricket is dying. The voices usually calling loudest for it to be truncated are the ones who would benefit financially from less test cricket and more T20. The same folk were clamouring for the death of ODIs not too long ago.
