England star pacer James Anderson thinks that probably he and his teammate Stuart Broad will be the last pacer who will play Test cricket at the 40. After that, no one will think of playing Test cricket till that age because of the enhancement of franchise cricket.

“Maybe Broady (Stuart Broad will play after 40) but definitely not after that because no-one will be stupid enough,” Anderson said.

“Everything that has gone in the world with franchise cricket, the Hundred, short forms of the game, I can’t see anyone wanting to play Test cricket for this long.”

40-year-old Anderson is set to lead the pace attack again in the upcoming three-match Test series against South Africa at home. Graham Gooch was the last player for England who played in the forties, that too was 28 years ago from now.

However, Anderson feels proud about the fact that he still has much passion about playing Test cricket. “I feel proud I’ve got to where I have. I feel fortunate as well that I’ve still got the love for the game and the desire to get better and still do the training and the nets and whatever else that comes with it.

“Because with a lot of people that’s the first thing that goes and that’s when you start slowing down and winding down. But for me, I feel like that passion is still there. So I feel fortunate for that. I feel fortunate that my body’s still functioning properly and allowing me to do the job that I love,” he added.

The right-arm-pacer has played 172 Test matches till now and taken 657 wickets for England.