England speedster James Anderson feels that players might not look for longevity in Test cricket in future, given the growing expansion of T20 leagues.
He is set to play his 173rd Test – against South Africa at Lord’s, August 17 – as a 40-year-old. The third-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket with 657 scalps, only behind the legendary Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Shane Warne (708), Anderson has evolved as a fast-bowling great over the years in a career that started back in 2003.
His longevity in the game is commendable, especially being a fast bowler, but would more players be able to match that in future? The last player to bag a Test wicket as a 40-year-old was former England captain and batting great Graham Gooch in late 1994.
“Definitely not after that because no-one will be stupid enough. Everything that has gone in the world with franchise cricket, the Hundred, short forms of the game, I can’t see anyone wanting to play Test cricket for this long,”
Anderson said, as per ESPNCricinfo.
He however, cited that his long-time bowling partner Stuart Broad, who is 36 already, can match the feat in future. It is noteworthy that Anderson drew curtains on his limited-overs career long back, having made his last ODI appearance during the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Broad’s last international white-ball appearance dates back to January 2016.
“I think Broady will say the same: that we were fortunate our white-ball careers pretty much ended after that World Cup and we could focus on red-ball cricket,”
he added.
“That worked out great for us. In the future, I can see it definitely being the other way round – with people picking and choosing their formats, tours, whatever it might be.”
Cricket’s ever-growing calendar, thanks to the ever-expanding and the introduction of various franchise leagues has had a toll on players, and have resulted in a few big calls in recent times. England Test captain and 2019 World Cup winner Ben Stokes announced his retirement from ODI cricket earlier this season, citing that it had become “just unsustainable” for him to play across the three formats.
Recently, Trent Boult, New Zealand’s premier quick across formats, withdrew his name from the national central contract on request, stating the packed schedule as a reason and that he wished to spend more time with his family. While Anderson acknowledged Boult’s decision, he did feel saddened for the game’s traditional format would be affected by it.
“(I am saddened) because Test cricket will probably bear the brunt of it. The easiest thing to do for bowlers is to bowl four overs or 20 balls. It takes nothing out of you. And if you’re getting paid just as well, it probably makes sense. It will tempt more people than not.
said Anderson.
England’s recently adopted aggressive brand of Test cricket, brought about since the appointment of Brendon McCullum as the head coach and Stokes as the captain, has brought them four impressive wins on the trot this season.
Anderson, the most capped Test cricketer after Sachin Tendulkar (200), feels that Test cricket remains an “amazing” format regardless of the way it is played.
“Even if we didn’t play this way, I still think Test cricket is an amazing format. We’ve had some brilliant series and matches, not just involving us and between other teams around the world that have been brilliant to watch. So I hope people will see that and want to be a part of it, growing up wanting to play Test cricket.
“But, yes, 100 per cent our job and responsibility as Test cricketers is to promote the game and encourage as many people as possible to watch it and play it when they get older,”
he added.
