http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/22625262/james-anderson-adds-voice-test-fears
Anderson adds voice to Test fears
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James Anderson has admitted he fears for the future of Test cricket as players and spectators favour the shorter formats.
While Anderson, a veteran of 134 Tests, insists a career as a T20 specialist would never have appealed to him, he concedes younger players could be seduced by a format of the game that is, as he puts it, "easier on the body and brain and a lot easier on the pocket". As a result, he feels it appears "less likely" that all three formats of the game will survive.
And while Anderson defended the ECB's apparent prioritisation of white-ball cricket in recent times - "what the ECB did was the right thing as our white-ball form was horrendous" - he has also called on the governing body to do something to ensure Test cricket isn't "pushed to one side".
Anderson's comments are, in part, inspired by recent announcements from Alex Hales, Adil Rashid and Morne Morkel who have all committed themselves, in the short term at least, to a future outside Test cricket. But Anderson was also alarmed by the paucity of spectators attending the first day of the Test series between South Africa and Australia in Durban.
"That's potentially the most exciting series around the world," Anderson says, "but crowds around the world seem to be dwindling.
"It's a really tricky time for cricket. And yes, I do worry that it could become a one-format game. People have asked for a long time if three formats can survive and, the more time goes on, the less likely it looks. I'd hate to see it. I'd hate to see cricket being a one-format game."
Although unsurprised by recent developments he feels there is a danger such prioritisation of T20 cricket will "set an example" to young players.
"I am not surprised at all. I thought it would happen with the way contracts have gone and I am sure there will be other people that follow in the future," he said. "There are incentives in white-ball cricket now, especially being able to play all the Twenty20 stuff around the world. It's getting quite lucrative in terms of the money you can earn.
"The danger for us is that it becomes, not an epidemic, but popular among players to do this. I do worry if more and more players do this, whether that sets the kind of example we want for younger guys coming through into the game. Will they want to go on and play Test cricket and put in the hard graft of playing five days on tough pitches? Or will they want to go forward in a game that would potentially be more lucrative for them?
"If you speak to the young guys coming through, the chance to play Test cricket is still what motivates them. 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."