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Follow UsEngland's ace paceman James Anderson might be 38 but the fourth highest wicket-taker in Test cricket believes he is far from done. The right-arm seamer recently recovered from a calf injury and is set to make his first Lancashire appearance since 2019.
"The thing that frustrates me the most... And it happens in this country more than most: you get to a certain age and people begin saying you have to start slowing down or you’re losing the ability to do your job. But I’m not sure from my own experience that’s the case," Anderson, who is five wickets away from Anil Kumble's tally of 619 scalps in Tests, told The Guardian.
Anderson is actually not wrong. In his last 10 Tests, he has picked up 37 wickets at a stunning average of 17.4 and a strike rate of 47.8. He was also Joe Root's main man in the recent tour of India. England were blown away 3-1 in the four-match series but Anderson managed to make quite an impression. He took eight wickets in three games at an average of just 15.87 and played a huge role in England winning the first Test in Chennai.
England are set to play two Tests against New Zealand and then five more against India in the next few months and Anderson is set to equal Alastair Cook’s England record of 161 caps. "I have never had those thoughts, that I’ve had enough or it’s getting too much. I mean, I guess I go into every season asking if I can cope but I’ve started this year as well as any with the ball. There’s no reason I can’t keep going," said Anderson.
"And you draw comfort from seeing people across other sports, like Zlatan Ibrahimovic getting another contract at Milan [aged 39], Tom Brady winning his seventh Super Bowl at 43, Roger Federer [39] overcoming injuries or Chris Thompson qualifying for the Olympic marathon at 40. It makes you think, why should I start slowing down?"
Once he finally decides to retire, Anderson said he will miss Test cricket the most. "Do you know what, that’s the bit I’ll miss the most. There is nothing like it. Cricket has moved away from the image of cucumber sandwiches and big teas. It’s intense and Test cricket is five days of having to cope with that. It takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions and challenges you physically as well. It’s amazing," he said.
"I just love it. I know I won’t ever be able to find a substitute for it. When I do eventually retire, hopefully it will be when I have had enough and so I enjoy whatever comes next. I know it’s going to be different. But that’s life.
"There’s no real goals for me, personally. I honestly don’t look at the amount of wickets I want to take or anything like that. I just look at the talent we’ve got in the England Test team and I feel I can still offer something on and off the field. And I love being a part of that growth."
The Ashes is to be played later this year but Anderson wants to focus on the present. "We have to focus on the series ahead of us though. New Zealand and India are the World Test Championship finalists – the best two sides around – so as players we won’t be thinking about Australia. It’s down to the management to look at the bigger picture."