As James Anderson prepares for his final Test match at Lord’s, the England paceman has opened up about his retirement, his performance, and what lies ahead for him. In an emotional and candid conversation, Anderson shared his thoughts on the end of an era in English cricket.
Anderson “At Peace” with Retirement Decision
James Anderson has accepted the decision by the England management to end his Test career despite feeling that he is still performing at his peak. Speaking about his impending retirement, Anderson said, “I’m trying not to think too much about the game itself yet, or certainly how I’d feel about it. 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.”
Anderson, who will play his 188th Test against the West Indies at Lord’s, admitted that the decision to retire was not his own but he has come to terms with it. He stated, “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.”
Reflecting on Performance and Career
Despite his imminent retirement, Anderson feels that he is still bowling as well as ever. “Coming off the back of seven-for last week, obviously I feel like I’m still bowling as well as I ever have,” Anderson remarked. He reflected on his career, acknowledging that while it had to end eventually, he is satisfied with how he has performed up until now.
Anderson also expressed excitement about his final week of Test cricket. “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 quite a few 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,” he said.
On the Timing of His Retirement
When asked if he felt the decision to retire was premature, Anderson responded thoughtfully. “It’s difficult to say. I’ve not really got a choice,” he said. He also addressed whether he could have continued until the 2025-26 Ashes series, stating, “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.”
Anderson acknowledged the challenges of predicting the future, saying, “It’s always difficult to answer that sort of question. You never know what’s going to happen.”
Accepting the Management’s Decision
Anderson shared his reaction to the decision from England’s management, including Test captain Ben Stokes, head coach Brendon McCullum, and managing director Rob Key. “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. I had a suspicion that that was going to be the case,” he recalled.
He described his calm reaction during the meeting, saying, “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.”
Anderson appreciated the transparent conversation and has made peace with the decision. “I saw their point of view and appreciated them taking the time out 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,” he said.
Looking Forward to the Future
As he nears the end of his Test career, Anderson is already looking forward to new opportunities. “I’m excited to see what the future holds,” he said, hinting at his potential future roles in coaching and mentoring. “I’ll stay on in the England dressing room this summer as a team mentor and am expected to go into coaching, although I have yet to make a decision on whether I will continue playing for Lancashire.”
Anderson’s final Test at Lord’s will be a momentous occasion for English cricket, marking the end of a remarkable career that has seen him become the most-prolific fast bowler in Test history.
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