Ahead of his 188th and final Test, James Anderson has said he is “at peace” with the upcoming Lord’s match being his last and that he “completely understands” the England management’s decision to call time on his career.
Anderson, 41, is England’s all-time leading wicket-taker with 700 Test wickets, but after England’s 4-1 defeat to India earlier this year it was decided by captain Ben Stokes, head coach Brendon McCullum and managing director Rob Key that it was time to move on from the legendary seamer.
“It’s been a strange couple of months,” Anderson said at Lord’s. “But I feel pretty happy with where things are now and excited for the week…I can completely understand the decision and the way the team wants to go and I’ve sort of made peace with that.”
This summer sees West Indies and Sri Lanka tour England for three Tests apiece, two relatively low-key affairs that has prompted management to change course and focus their resources on preparing for the arrival of India next year and the 2025/26 away Ashes - a bridge that was deemed too far for Anderson, who will be 43 by that time.
“I don’t really have a choice, have I,” Anderson joked when asked if he felt he was bowing out too soon. “It’s difficult to answer those questions because you never know what’s going to happen in the next 18 months… I still feel I’m bowling as well as I ever have.
“My whole career, I’ve never really focused too far ahead. I probably thought before the last away Ashes that I wouldn’t make that because of the age I was getting to.”
Although the decision was not his, Anderson said he didn’t find it a surprise that the England management had called time.
He said: “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 was going to be the case. I think they were surprised at how calm I was and I was probably surprised at my reaction. I wasn't overly emotional or angry about it.
“I saw their point of view and appreciated them taking the time to lay it out for me. Since then, I've come to terms with it and made peace with that decision. I’m just looking forward to one more game and then see what's ahead."
To back up his assertion that he is bowling as well as ever, last week Anderson took 7-35 for Lancashire against Nottinghamshire. Following his retirement, Anderson said it is unlikely that he will play for Lancashire again this season, but hasn’t ruled out returning next year.
“If I feel like I can still contribute to Lancashire and they need me, then I’m sure that’s a conversation we’ll have in the next few months,” he said.
In a piece of symmetry, Anderson will bow out on the same ground at which he made his debut, with Lord’s the venue for his first England appearance against Zimbabwe back in 2003.
“Play well, bowl well and get a win,” Anderson said of his thoughts in the lead-up to his final match. “I’m sure the emotions will change during the week but that’s what I’m trying to focus on to stop myself crying.”
I can completely understand the decision and the way the team wants to go and I’ve sort of made peace with that
Anderson will be continuing with the England set-up after this Test in a mentorship role, with England naming several young seamers in the squad including the uncapped Gus Atkinson and Dillon Pennington.
“Coaching is obviously something I’ve thought about,” Anderson said in regards to what’s next for him. “I feel like my role in the team for the last few years has been to mentor the younger guys coming in and trying to help them settle into the team.
“I think I’ve got a lot to offer in terms of my experiences in Test cricket so I’m looking forward to doing that for the rest of the summer. We’ve got a really good group of bowlers, some exciting young bowlers who’ve not played much Test cricket so it’d be great if I can help in a small way.”
