England great James Anderson has moments of regret over upcoming retirement
TIMESOFINDIA.COM | May 22, 2024, 10.22 PM IST
NEW DELHI: England great James Anderson has admitted there are moments when he questions his upcoming retirement from Test cricket, although he is content with his decision "90 percent" of the time.
The most successful fast bowler in Test history, with 700 wickets, Anderson announced earlier this month that the first Test against the West Indies at Lord's in July would mark his farewell to England duty.
Anderson, who will turn 42 next month, acknowledged on Wednesday that he sometimes contemplates continuing his career, especially given that he has reached an age where most pace bowlers have long since retired.
"In my head I feel like I could play for 10 years," Anderson told his BBC Tailenders podcast. "Obviously I realise that is not realistic.
"Some days I wake up and wish I was not retiring but then 90 percent of the time I'm happy with it.
"Not many people in sport get the chance to retire from sport at over 40. I'm happy I've made it this far."
Only spinners Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan have taken more Test wickets than James Anderson. The England spearhead needs nine more wickets in his final match to surpass the late Australia hero Warne's tally, with Muralitharan leading the chart with 800 Test wickets.
Anderson's decision to retire from Tests followed discussions with captain Ben Stokes, head coach Brendon McCullum, and director of England men's cricket Rob Key, as the team seeks to refresh their attack ahead of the 2025/26 Ashes in Australia.
Despite his retirement from Test cricket, Anderson could remain involved with England in a backroom capacity during the rest of the season. He has yet to decide whether he will continue to represent Lancashire, where the end at the county's Old Trafford headquarters in Manchester is named after him.
In recent years, speculation about Anderson's future has been a recurring theme, with the swing specialist admitting that the constant talk has been a mental burden.
"There's probably been two or three moments on the field, if the opposition are 500 for three, I'll be thinking, 'do I really want to still be doing this?'" he said. "They are fleeting thoughts -- nothing that has stuck with me for more than an over.
"I don't know how much of that was me and how much it was the external noise that comes with ageing. For the last six years, or even longer, it's been, 'how long can you go on for?'
"That in itself, certainly for the last couple of years, has been quite draining."
(With AFP inputs)
The most successful fast bowler in Test history, with 700 wickets, Anderson announced earlier this month that the first Test against the West Indies at Lord's in July would mark his farewell to England duty.
Anderson, who will turn 42 next month, acknowledged on Wednesday that he sometimes contemplates continuing his career, especially given that he has reached an age where most pace bowlers have long since retired.
"In my head I feel like I could play for 10 years," Anderson told his BBC Tailenders podcast. "Obviously I realise that is not realistic.
"Some days I wake up and wish I was not retiring but then 90 percent of the time I'm happy with it.
"Not many people in sport get the chance to retire from sport at over 40. I'm happy I've made it this far."
Only spinners Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan have taken more Test wickets than James Anderson. The England spearhead needs nine more wickets in his final match to surpass the late Australia hero Warne's tally, with Muralitharan leading the chart with 800 Test wickets.
Anderson's decision to retire from Tests followed discussions with captain Ben Stokes, head coach Brendon McCullum, and director of England men's cricket Rob Key, as the team seeks to refresh their attack ahead of the 2025/26 Ashes in Australia.
Despite his retirement from Test cricket, Anderson could remain involved with England in a backroom capacity during the rest of the season. He has yet to decide whether he will continue to represent Lancashire, where the end at the county's Old Trafford headquarters in Manchester is named after him.
In recent years, speculation about Anderson's future has been a recurring theme, with the swing specialist admitting that the constant talk has been a mental burden.
"There's probably been two or three moments on the field, if the opposition are 500 for three, I'll be thinking, 'do I really want to still be doing this?'" he said. "They are fleeting thoughts -- nothing that has stuck with me for more than an over.
"I don't know how much of that was me and how much it was the external noise that comes with ageing. For the last six years, or even longer, it's been, 'how long can you go on for?'
"That in itself, certainly for the last couple of years, has been quite draining."
(With AFP inputs)