According to New Zealand Cricket's general manager of cricket Geoff Allott, the future of the one-day game is not under threat.

Allott said that the 50-over format was under no threat despite the England and Wales Cricket Board's decision to scrap the version from their domestic competition next year.

From 2010 England's county sides will play the traditional four-day County Championship matches, an enhanced Twenty20 competition and a limited-overs competition that will be played over 40 overs, rather than 50.

But Allott, a former New Zealand pace bowler, believes one-day cricket still has an important part to play in the game.

"It's an interesting review (by the ECB) but I think they are still pretty clear that they want to support this (limited overs) form of the game," he told Radio Sport.

"From a cricketing sense it makes perfect sense to retain the form at this stage because we are catering for everyone's wishes and desires.

"The good news about it (ECB's decision) is the fact that there is plenty of support for three forms of the game, which is outstanding.

"It's an important aspect for cricket to maintain and retain that form of the game. It's a developmental part of the game for us for our Test matches and it also breeds a good standard of play for our Twenty20."

Despite the rapid growth of Twenty20 cricket in the past few years and the significant support from fans it receives compared to Test and one-day cricket, Allott believes cricket will be able to sustain all three forms of the game in the future.

"I think that is something we have got to continually review but at this stage yes I think it is (possible).

"We are still very much in the developmental stage of Twenty20 and, whilst it has been incredibly successful, we have to be conscious that ODIs have served us well for the past decade.

"It's too presumptuous to think at this stage that we'll see the end of 50 overs, or equivalent, of the game."

The ECB are likely to propose the International Cricket Council conduct a formal review of the future of 50-over cricket after the 2011 World Cup.

Australia and New Zealand are to host jointly the 2015 World Cup and Allott does not believe that would be under threat.

"There are commercial commitments through to 2015 around the 50-over game. It will take significant co-ordination to change that," he said.

"That's an ICC decision and I'm sure it won't impact on the final outcome of us hosting that event.

"I'm sure the broadcasters have committed to a form of the game in 2015 which is the 50 overs. They would absolutely have to be included in the discussions.

"Whilst this announcement (by the ECB) has come out now there is no expectation that the ICC are going to jump and make a decision. It's part of their review, as are a number of issues that are tabled frequently. We've just got to keep it in perspective."