Twenty20 veteran Brad Hodge says games with packed houses beat playing Tests in front of "half-baked arenas", and we can expect more players to follow the West Indies' lead and snub Tests for the lucrative, shortened version of the game.

Fresh from a stint in the Caribbean Premier League, Hodge will captain the Adelaide Strikers in this year's Big Bash League - which begins on Thursday - before entering the draft for the newly formed Pakistan Super League in February next year.

The 243 game Twenty20 specialist - who turns 41 this month - says despite the recent changes made to the Test match game to make it more accessible to the general public, he expects more Test level players to snub playing multi-day internationals for the more lucrative, 20-over format.

"Unfortunately that's the way it's going. It's [an] evolving time, changing time in cricket." Hodge said after being named captain at the Adelaide Oval.

"I think you'll find more of it in the future."

The West Indies got their tour of Australia off to a disastrous start after they were beaten by an innings and 212 runs within three days in Hobart. Adding insult to injury, all-rounder Marlon Samuels has now been suspended from bowling for 12 months by the International Cricket Council for an illegitimate bowling action.

Part of the blame for the poor performance from the tourists has been placed on established veterans making themselves available for Twenty20 selection - but not for their country.

Chris Gayle, Andre Rusell, Dwayne Bravo, and Samuel Badree will all feature in this year's BBL season but will be notably absent from Test pitches this summer.

Hodge conceded the West Indies situation was unique - highlighting the players' dispute with the West Indies Cricket Board as a major factor for the veterans opting out of the Test team.

But he says for professional cricketers, the reduced strain on the body and earning potential of the shortened version of the game was a "pretty important" reason to why he thinks more will opt to snub the Test arena.

"They've had their own issues with the board, I think until they get that resolved, you'll get the same result," he said.

"Sport itself, remuneration has gone through the roof, in every aspect. Look at US baseball, soccer, cricket is following that path."

Sorry series ... the West Indies have suffered a diabolical tour of Australia so far. ( Getty Images: Cameron Spencer )

But Hodge, who played six Tests for Australia, says money is not the only issue.

"I pretty much think the enjoyment level of Twenty20 is pretty exciting," he said.

"Playing in front of a 50,000 packed house is a lot more fun than a half baked arena."

Despite the waning interest in the current Test series, the Victorian born cricketer says he still expects the Boxing Day Test to attract a lot of attention - but says the current performance and line-up of the West Indies is "probably not ideal leading into the series."

"Boxing Day is never a waste of time," he said.

"As a Victorian, there's never a better day to celebrate sport. It's an institution, one of those things that the people take on board no matter what.

"You'd hope that the cricket is of a little bit better standard."