James Anderson to continue as England's bowling consultant for away Test tours

James Anderson will continue his long association with England cricket, extending his role as senior men's bowling consultant to England’s next two Test series – in Pakistan and New Zealand. 

Anderson retired from international cricket following the first Test of England’s ongoing home summer against West Indies. He then shifted to the bowling consultant’s role with immediate effect, currently doing the job for the fifth Test in a row in the ongoing third Test versus Sri Lanka at the Oval. The agreement has now been extended to the upcoming away tours – three Test each in Pakistan (in October) and in New Zealand (November and December). 

"At the minute, I'm due to go to Pakistan and New Zealand in the winter," Anderson told Sky Sports ahead of the first day’s play of the Oval Test. "Then nothing concrete after that.

"I'm very new to this, I'm still learning as we go. It's partly me trying to figure out if this is where I want to go with the next stage of my career and also for them to figure out if I'm any good at it as well."

As reported by ESPNCricinfo, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) were keen to retain Anderson’s expertise post his retirement and build up towards the away Ashes in the 2025/26 season. Hence, he was appointed as the bowling consultant on a short-term role to find his feet in this role. The contract has now been extended for the overseas tours as well. 

With Brendon McCullum, red ball coach of the England’s men’s team, advancing his role to the white-ball formats, Anderson can also take up the consultant’s job in white-ball formats. No red-ball cricket for England until the next summer makes this move highly probable. 

"It would be great to have Jimmy in Pakistan, the same in New Zealand and who knows going forward. Jimmy has a few itches to scratch along the way but it is great to have him involved with us,” said Rob Key, managing director of ECB, speaking to Test Match Special during the lunch break of the first day’s play at the Oval. 

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