The truth is finally being acknowledged; test cricket is in danger of dying.

Almost a quarter still end in draws.... :'(

Correct. An all-time low. So how can you make an argument that the decline in attendance at Test cricket is due to the draw? If draws in Test match cricket were at an all-time high, sure, you could make that argument, but not when draws are happening at a lower rate than any other time in history.

Lower...higher, dunn matter.  Every Jurassic CAN end in  a draw, dats da problem.  : Of course, the Timmyj Plan (200 total overs per side per match)
would total eliminate draws.  ::love::

How does that totally eliminate draws? One side still has the potential to bat out however many overs are left in their allotment. As an example, if the batting team needs to chase down 350 in 90 overs, if they finish on 300/7 after 90 overs, the match still finishes in a draw.

No, they lose, just as in an ODI.

So your solution is to turn Test match cricket into 5 days of ODIs? Seems pointless to me. You are still playing 5 days worth of cricket - but ruining the beauty of the game. It is a test of endurance. Not to mention, not all draws in Test match cricket are created equal.

The Ashes draw at Cardiff, the West Indies/India match in 2011 and England/Zimbabwe in 1996 are among three of the most exciting games in cricket history - regardless of the format.

Also, what happens if rain is involved?

This also doesn't solve a real problem with Test cricket. Test matches finishing in a draw isn't the reason for a decline in attendance in some countries. This is a red herring and not backed up by the data I provided above. The real reason for the decline is certain teams no longer being competitive (its tough to watch your side get thrashed around for 4 or 5 days), the overwhelming number of T20 matches, and the time factor - not as many people can and/or want to spend five days watching cricket.

FWIW: the first Test between England and Pakistan set a new attendance record at Lords with 113,637 people attending the first four days.

www.lords.org/news/2016-2/july/lords-attracts-113/

awesome !!

and 7 watched the WI/India

Correct. It's a problem. As theorised above.

To be honest it doesn't matter what people like us come up with, it's the ICC that need to either commit to changing test match cricket and trying various ways to make it work again, or just knock it on the head completely. How long have we been arguing the toss about test match attendances being on the decline and if it was a cat it would be on it's 9th life by now.

Do something to change it or just give it up and plough their time and efforts into the other formats of the sport instead.