Test cricket still arouses passion in players, says England's James Anderson

At 33, Anderson is effectively operating as a Test specialist and his status as England’s record wicket-taker, plus the fifth most prolific seam bowler in history, makes him an obvious cheerleader for the longer format.

But it is still instructive to hear him defend the primacy of Tests.

When he won his first cap in 2003, the first Twenty20 international was still two years in the future, but the landscape has shifted irrevocably and the short form appears more attractive with fans, sponsors and – arguably – players in some territories.

Nobody involved in the sport can have missed the stellar crowds in Australia’s Big Bash League, or ignore the pay cheques on offer in the Indian Premier League and beyond.

Anderson, who will spearhead his side’s push for a series-clinching win against South Africa in Johannesburg this week, is happy to make the alternate case.

Although his name was linked to next month’s Pakistan Super League, few elite players seem less likely to trawl the T20 tournaments for a final pay day than Anderson, who will report back to Lancashire in April, having declined to chase an IPL deal.

“My heart is with playing Test cricket for England so that is what I’ll concentrate on doing for the foreseeable future,” he said.

“There is a slight worry (over Test cricket) with the domestic T20 competitions doing so well.

“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.

“It still excites me, I love it, I prioritise it in my head and my heart and I’m not the only person who feels like that in the world.

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

On the face of it, the ongoing battle for the Basil D’Oliveira Trophy seems an unusual backdrop for a debate about the future of Test cricket.

A total of 85,095 fans turned out for the drawn match in Cape Town and another bumper crowd is anticipated at the Wanderers as the Proteas attempt to prevent the tourists turning their 1-0 lead into an unassailable advantage.

Toppling the world’s No 1 side on their own patch would be a sizeable achievement and Anderson, the only survivor from the triumphant tour in 2004-05, sees it as a big opportunity for an England side packed with less experienced players.

“It would be massive for us, especially with the journey this team has gone on in a short space of time,” he said.

Anderson missed the victory in Durban with a calf strain but is back up to full speed having returned in Cape Town, where he worked through 35 overs.

England’s only concern this week has been Nick Compton with a sickness bug, but he was back in the nets yesterday.