Test cricket still excites me : England's James Anderson

Johannesburg, 13 January - England veteran pacer James Anderson has said Test cricket is what excites him still but added that the longest format of the game is facing pressure from the popularity of Twenty 20.

"It still excites me. I prioritise it in my head and my heart,” Anderson was quoted as saying by the BBC on Tuesday.
"It is what I will concentrate on doing for the foreseeable future," he said.

The right-arm fast bowler who made his debut in 2003 in Tests is England's leading wicket taker in the format.

Anderson has 427 Test wickets in 111 Tests, but played the last of his 19 T20 internationals in 2009, against South Africa in Centurion.

"There is a slight worry with the domestic T20 competitions doing so well."Anderson also said that he believes Test cricket is where the real skill and character of players are tested.

"But speak to players and there is a still a passion to play Test cricket. It's a real test of someone's character and skill, to perform in this form of the game,” he said.

"Hopefully it's not just players but fans too, because we need people to keep supporting the game so that it does flourish."

Agency