James Anderson demeans IPL and other leagues, offers crucial 'Test Cricket' advice to next generation

James Anderson, England's legendary fast bowler, hopes that the next generation of cricketers will embrace the unique challenges of Test cricket rather than merely running behind the money while playing in the shorter formats of the game.

As he is gearing up to retire from international cricket after the first Test against the West Indies at Lord’s, Anderson reflects on a remarkable career that has spanned two decades. During this period, the legendary pacer played 188 Test matches, the second most in the world after Sachin Tendulkar (200).

James Anderson calls for young players to embrace the grind of Test Cricket

Things have changed a lot since Anderson, who is the leading fast bowler in the world with over 700 Test wickets, made his Test debut against Zimbabwe at Lord’s in 2003. Now, cricketers no longer need to establish themselves in Test cricket for financial gains, thanks to the rise of lucrative T20 franchise tournaments across the globe, like the Indian Premier League (IPL).

However, Anderson believes that Test cricket offers depth and fulfillment unmatched by shorter formats. He credited Test cricket for shaping his character and career. Even the fast bowler retired from white-ball cricket to extend his Test career, and his dedication has placed him third on the all-time list of wicket-takers.

He is only behind only spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne as the highest Test wicket-takers. As Anderson bids farewell to Test cricket, the legendary England fast bowler hopes that upcoming generations of cricketers will appreciate the profound satisfaction and lessons that come from the five-day game rather than solely chasing money in T20 leagues.

Expressing his deep passion for Test cricket, Anderson has emphasized the unique fulfillment derived from hard work in the red-ball matches, which he believes is unparalleled in any other format of the game. He also reflected on how Test cricket has profoundly influenced his life.

Test cricket is literally the reason what I am today: James Anderson

The 42-year-old said that he would never get the same joy and satisfaction while playing in T20 cricket as when strategically outplaying a batter over a longer period of time. Notably, the Lord’s Test against the West Indies will be his last international game, but he has not yet decided on his first-class career.

James Anderson was quoted as saying by AFP: “Test cricket is literally the reason that I am the person that I am. It has taught me so many lessons through the years, built my resilience to a lot of things. I think the fulfilment you get from putting in a shift in a day’s cricket is different to anything else you can do in the game.”

Anderson signed off by saying, “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 from taking wickets that are caught on the boundary compared to really giving a batter a working-over and figure someone out.”