One of Test cricket's oldest current players James Anderson has spoken out over the recent decision from New Zealand quick Trent Boult to ask to not have a central contract with his home nation.
Boult made the call that he no longer wants to play red ball cricket for his country, abandoning his contract in an effort to make himself available for T20 leagues around the world, as well as the Hundred in England.
The Kiwi quick isn't the first player to make the move, with a number of West Indian cricketers previously making the same call, however, he is the first from a nation at or near the top of the cricketing world on a consistent basis, and without major disputes ongoing with the home board.
The West Indian players all left amid players with the board, while Boult simply wants to play short form cricket for domestic franchise leagues around the world.
English quick James Anderson, who is now the wrong side of 40 but still playing for his country in Test cricket, said that the longest form of the game could bear the brunt of more decisions like the ones from Boult in the future, telling Cricinfo that the likelihood of bowlers electing for the far easier route of bowling four overs could become a dangerous trend.
"Test cricket will probably bear the brunt of it. The easiest thing to do for bowlers is bowl four overs or 20 balls. It takes nothing out of you. And if you're getting paid just as well, it probably makes sense. It will tempt more people than not," he said.
"It is [a big deal that Boult made this choice] because he is such a high-profile international player and I can definitely see it happening more and more now, particularly with bowlers."
Boult also wanted to spend more time with his family in making the decision, however Anderson and fellow English quick Stuart Broad went the other way by playing no white ball cricket after the 2015 ODI World Cup, which was held in Australia and New Zealand.
T20 leagues continue to spring up around the world, with more and more opportunities - and dollars - available for players.
It has come to a head in recent times for Cricket Australia, with the BBL to be in direct competition this home summer with the South African, Bangladeshi and United Arab Emirates Leagues.
Anderson said no one "would be stupid enough" to continue playing until the age of 40 in the future after Stuart Broad, who is now 36.
"Definitely not after that because no-one will be stupid enough. 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," Anderson said.
