England legendary fast bowler James Anderson hoped that the future generations will appreciate the challenges and rewards of the five-day format rather than pursue lucrative short-format opportunities.
The Lancashire bowler will play his 188th and final Test match against the West Indies at Lord's starting Wednesday, concluding a record-breaking career spanning two decades. Anderson holds the record for most Test wickets by a fast bowler, with over 700 scalps, and is second only to Sachin Tendulkar in total Test matches played.
Since his debut at Lord's against Zimbabwe in 2003, the cricket landscape has changed significantly. Players now find lucrative opportunities in Twenty20 franchise tournaments like the Indian Premier League (IPL), often prioritizing these over the traditional Test format.
For fast bowlers, the lighter workload of T20 cricket is particularly appealing. However, Anderson emphasized that Test cricket has profoundly shaped his character and career.
"Test cricket is literally the reason that I am the person that I am," Anderson said. "It has taught me so many lessons through the years, built my resilience. The fulfilment you get from putting in a shift in a day's cricket is different from anything else."
Anderson chose to focus on Test cricket, retiring early from white-ball formats to prolong his Test career. He ranks third on the all-time wicket-takers list, behind only spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne.
While acknowledging the financial allure of T20 cricket, Anderson finds greater satisfaction in the intricate battles of Test matches. "I know you can earn a lot of money from bowling four overs in T20 cricket, but for me, personally, I would never get the same sort of joy or fulfilment," he said.
Forced into retirement by England's management, who aim to rebuild for the 2025/26 Ashes, Anderson, turning 42 later this month, insists he is still performing at his peak. "It's difficult to say. I've not really got a choice," he remarked when asked if he could continue playing.
England, under the captaincy of Ben Stokes, has adopted an aggressive playing style known as "Bazball," named after coach Brendon McCullum. Despite their entertaining approach, England has won only four of their last 11 Tests.
The upcoming series against the West Indies will showcase a new-look England team, including debutants Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson.
The West Indies, though no longer the force they were in the 1980s, achieved a significant victory over Australia in Brisbane earlier this year. Former captain Jason Holder, returning to Test cricket, expressed his excitement about rejoining the team.
"I was just so happy for the boys when they did what they did in Australia. It gave me renewed energy to come back to the group and try to be a part of something special again," Holder said.
