Would hate to see Test cricket suffer more: Anderson

Would hate to see Test cricket suffer more: Anderson

“These competitions around the world are fantastic to watch but as good as they are, I would hate to see Test cricket suffer more than it is at the minute,” said Anderson. © Getty Images

Adil Rashid and Alex Hales’s decision to turn their back on Test cricket in the past fortnight has once again instigated the debate over the future of the longest format of the game. Though the duo’s choice might have come as a shock to some, James Anderson wasn’t surprised and expected others to follow suit in the future.

Speaking to The Independent, Anderson said, “It was something I kind of thought might happen, with the way contracts have gone. There are incentives in white-ball cricket now, especially being able to play all the Twenty20 stuff around the world.

“It’s getting quite ludicrous in terms of the money you can earn. I’m not surprised at all and I’m sure there will be other people that follow in the future. The danger for us is that it becomes, not an epidemic, but popular among players to do this.”

Anderson, though, is concerned about this trend and fears that the younger generation might be tempted by the money the shorter formats offer.

“I do worry if more and more players do it whether that sets the kind of example we want for younger guys coming through the game,” he continued. “Will they want to go on and play Test cricket and put in the hard graft of playing five days on tough pitches? Or would they want to go forward in a game that would potentially be more lucrative for them?

“These competitions around the world are fantastic to watch but as good as they are, I would hate to see Test cricket suffer more than it is at the minute.”

Anderson, who is England’s leading wicket-taker in Test cricket, expressed apprehensions over the lack of spectators during the ongoing first Test between South Africa and Australia at Kingsmead in Durban.

“It’s a slight worry for me because the crowds around the world seem to be dwindling. Seeing South Africa v Australia, the crowd in Durban … it might not be ideal, midweek, kids at school – but that’s potentially the most exciting series around the world!

“I just hope… you need role models; Virat Kohli if he continues, [Morne] Morkel retiring is a big loss, AB [De Villiers] there is talk about him… it needs people, not just players but they will play a part of it and more people will want to watch it.”

Anderson feels that as long as young fans are following Test cricket, there is hope, but at some point, the money part is going to come into the picture.

“When we play Test cricket in England there are lots of kids watching a full day’s play, I am sure there is still interest out there and an Ashes series is still the pinnacle for the young guys coming through. I just worry they will get caught up in T20 as it’s easier on the body and brain… and a lot easier on the pocket as well.”