“Something I’ve got to deal with and accept,” James Anderson opens up on his retirement call

Legendary England pacer James Anderson will feature in his 188th and last Test match, starting on July 10 at the Lord’s Cricket Ground against West Indies.

Anderson is currently the third-highest wicket-taker in Test history with 700 scalps to his name from 187 matches. He has a chance to go past Shane Warne’s tally of 708 wickets in his farewell Test.

Earlier this year, Anderson became the first fast bowler to take 700 wickets in the longest format. The 41-year-old achieved this feat by dismissing Kuldeep Yadav during the Dharamsala Test against India.

Anderson, who turns 42 later this month, believes that he is bowling as good as he has throughout his career.

“I still feel as fit as I ever have, like I’m bowling as well as I ever have. I still think I could do a job. But at the same time I understand that it has to end at some point. The fact that it now is just something I’ve got to deal with and accept,” Anderson said while speaking to reporters on Monday (July 8).

James Anderson was asked whether he was retiring too soon as he picked up a seven-wicket haul for Lancashire last week.

To which, the veteran campaigner replied: “It’s difficult to say. I’ve not really got a choice.”

Anderson admitted that he had not considered retirement before being invited to a meeting with the “three big dogs” – England men’s managing director, Rob Key, Test captain Ben Stokes and coach McCullum.

In that meeting, the trio informed Anderson that they are planning to pick fast bowlers that are likely to feature in the 2025 winter Ashes tour of Australia.

“I wouldn’t say it was a surprise, because when the three big dogs invited me to a hotel in Manchester for a chat I didn’t think it was just a normal appraisal,” he said. “I had a suspicion that that was going to be the case. I think they were surprised at how calm I was and I was probably surprised at my reaction. I wasn’t overly emotional or angry about it.

“I saw their point of view and appreciated them taking the time to lay it out for me. Since then I’ve come to terms with it and made peace with that decision. I’m just looking forward to one more game and then see what’s ahead.”

After this farewell Test, James Anderson will take up the mentoring role for the remainder of the summer before deciding if he wants to continue playing First-Class cricket for Lancashire or transition into a full-time coaching role.

“That’s way too far ahead,” he said. “We’ll just see how these next two months go. I think they want to see if I’m any good at it, whether I fit into what they want from a coaching group, and then I’ll see if I enjoy it.

“Coming off the back of seven-for last week, obviously I feel like I’m still bowling as well as I ever have. If I feel like I can still contribute to Lancashire or they need me, then I’m sure that’s a conversation we’ll have in the next few months.”

(Cricbuzz Inputs)