Mark Boucher concerned for Test cricket amid rise of T20 leagues

Mark Boucher admits he is concerned about the diminishing amount of Test cricket being played and believes recent results show the format has adapted to the modern game which prizes entertainment over grit. Hours after seeing his side beaten 1-2 by England in their Test series, Boucher announced on Monday he would step down as coach after the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia that starts next month. South Africa are due to play a reduced number of 28 Tests in the next four-year cycle to make space in the calendar for their new domestic T20 league, Cricket South Africa CEO Pholetsi Moseki told ESPNcricinfo.

Read AlsoMark Boucher to step down as South Africa coach after T20 World Cup

South Africa coach Mark Boucher will leave his post after the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia later this year to pursue "other opportunities in line with his future career and personal objectives", officials said on Monday. The announcement came hours after South Africa lost their three-match test

It is a low number of games when compared to England (43 Tests over the same period), Australia (40) and India (38), and will do little to nurture players in the five-day arena. "To lose sight of Test cricket and lose games is not great," Boucher told reporters. "I'm a purist. I love Test cricket to bits. It's the purest form of the game and one that we really need to look after. "The heads in the game need to get together and find a way to play more Test cricket. It's exciting, especially with the way the games are being played now. It's very seldom that you have draws. "The game's moved forward, maybe because of T20 cricket. Guys are playing shots they would never usually play. It's attacking and it's a nice game to watch. So the more we see it, the