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Follow UsJames Anderson reckons he is bowling as well as ever in the build-up to the final Test of his marathon Test career, supposed to end in the first Test against West Indies at Lord’s starting July 10.
The 41-year-old has featured in 187 Tests for England, picking 700 wickets, both the most for any specialist pacer in the history of Test cricket. He announced his Test retirement ahead of the three-match Test series against West Indies.
"I'm trying not to think too much about the game itself yet, or certainly how I'd feel about it," the right-arm seamer said. "I'm trying to be as focused as I can. The big thing for me this week is wanting to play well, bowl well and get a win. That's what I'm trying to focus on really. I'm sure the emotions during the week will change, but right now that's what I'm trying to focus on to stop myself crying.
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"It's been a strange couple of months. I feel pretty happy with where things are now and pretty excited for the week as well. I think having friends and family come down for the week, which is good. I've had a lot of people who've stopped me in the street or met out and about saying that they're coming to the game. I'm just excited for the week,” Anderson told.
Playing four matches in England’s last Test assignment, ie the five-match Test series in India, Anderson snapped 10 wickets at 33.5 runs apiece. Appearing for Lancashire in the ongoing County Championship, he picked 7/35 against Nottinghamshire.
"It was important for me that I try and put in some good performances to finish with. I loved being out on the field with Lancashire last week. I've always loved playing for Lancashire. I've not played a huge amount for them over the last 20 years because of England duties. But every time I've had a chance to go back to play for them, I've tried to give it my all and that's exactly what I did last week. Unfortunately, I couldn't get the win because of the north-west weather," Anderson reflected on the outing for Lancashire.
England management reportedly told Anderson at the start of the season that they were looking to move on, which led to the veteran pacer calling it quits on his career. Was Anderson eyeing to play the next Ashes — in the 2025/26 season? Anderson said he takes one series at a time and it is a tough question to answer.
"It's always difficult to answer that sort of question," he said. "You never know what's going to happen. It's 18 months away. It's a long time. Throughout my whole career, I've never really focused on too far ahead. I've always tried to take it series by series and focus on those little goals. as my career has gone on.
"It's really impossible to say. I probably thought before the last away Ashes that I wouldn't make [it] 18 months before that because of the way the game is and the age I was getting to. I can completely understand the decision and the way the team and management want to go. As I've said, the last couple of months I've made peace with that and I'm excited to see what the future holds."
"Coming off the back of seven-for last week, obviously I feel like I'm still bowling as well as I ever have. I knew it had to end at some point, whether it's now or a year or two years. The fact that it's now is just something that I've got to deal with and accept,” Anderson stated about his situation after a 21-year-old career.
Anderson made his Test debut in 2003 where he picked 5/73 against Zimbabwe at Lord’s. He will cap off his career playing at the same venue.
"I hadn't really thought about it (retirement) just because as I said I felt as fit as I ever have been in India," Anderson stated. "I thought that playing this summer would be achievable. Obviously, as a senior bowler, you don't play every Test anyway, you get rested and stuff like that. I thought that was achievable and then thought about stuff after that. That's the way I've always approached it.”
"I wouldn't say it was a surprise because when the three big dogs (England men's managing director, Rob Key, Test coach, Brendon McCullum, and Test captain, Ben Stokes) invited to a hotel in Manchester for a chat I didn't think it was just a normal appraisal. I had a suspicion that that was going to be the case. I think they were surprised at how calm I was when I reacted. I think I was probably surprised at my reaction. I wasn't overly emotional about it or angry about it or anything.
"I saw their point of view and appreciated them taking the time to lay it out for me, the reasoning and stuff like that. Since then I've come to terms with it and made peace with that decision. Just looking forward to one more game and then see what's ahead."
Anderson is eight wickets away from Shane Warne's tally for most Test wickets which is the second-most by a bowler. The Burnley-born has played 28 Tests at Lord's where he has picked 119 wickets, averaging 25.2 runs per wicket.
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