James Anderson (R) made his England debut the year before Andrew Strauss, who is now a decade removed from retirement
(Picture: AFP via Getty Images)Sir Andrew Strauss believes it is James Anderson’s desperation to continue to improve that will this week take his Test career beyond his 40th birthday.
At Lord’s against South Africa on Wednesday, Anderson is set to play his first Test since turning 40 last month, in what is expected to be an unchanged England lineup from the victory over India six weeks ago.
Strauss retired from cricket a decade ago this week (at the end of another series against South Africa) and admits he can scarcely believe that Anderson is still going.
Anderson’s Test career began in 2003, a year before Strauss, whose charity (in memory of his late wife), the Ruth Strauss Foundation, hold their fourth Red For Ruth Day during the Test.
“A decade from retiring seems obscene quite frankly, but the most bizarre thing of all is that Jimmy Anderson made his England debut before I did,” he laughed. “That is crazy.
“For Jimmy to keep his standards and fitness levels as high as he has, to keep improving his skills as he has over the last six or seven years, that’s the difference when you look at good cricketers and greats. The greats are the ones that keep evolving and keep finding ways to make life difficult.
“Look at Jimmy, he’s still incredibly competitive, genuinely world-class level, and it’s a privilege to watch him bowl, in English cricket especially.”
