Outgoing South Africa coach 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 2-1 by England in their Test series, Boucher announced on Monday he would step down as coach after the T20 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 domesticT20 league.

It is a low number of games when compared to England (43Tests 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.

“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.”