James Anderson has backed his long-time bowling partner Stuart Broad to continue playing for England "for another 4-5 years".
Anderson and Broad have played together in 126 Test matches, sharing 944 wickets at a combined average of 26.75, with the pair England's all-time leading Test wicket takers. They were controversially dropped for the recent tour of the West Indies, sparking concerns that they may have played their last match for England.
However, the pair have been recalled this summer and look set to lead the attack once more when England face New Zealand at Lord's on June 2. With Anderson now 39 and Broad 35, they are clearly at the tail end of their careers, but Anderson feels Broad still has plenty more left in the tank.
Since turning 35, Anderson has picked up 160 wickets at 21.72 in 44 Tests and he believes that Broad, who is four years his junior, can do the same. Speaking to talkSPORT, Anderson said: "Since I was 35, I've probably had my best four years in international cricket.
"So from his point of view, he's thinking 'why can't I have the best years ahead of me?' It's not like we're losing pace or the skills are dropping or the fitness is dropping.
"We set really high standards of ourselves and that's why we've done what we've done for the last 15-20 years. There's no reason why Stuart can't go on for another 4-5 years."
Speaking about the decision to recall Anderson and Broad, England's new Managing Director of Men's Cricket Rob Key insisted they will "try to make the most of them while we've still got them". He said: "I think we'll try to get the most out of them that we possibly can.
"If they're part of the best bowling attack I'd rather have them in the side, trying to win games of cricket for England, than prolonging their careers when they can't impact as much as possible. I think we'll try to make the most of them while we've still got them."
Craig Overton and the uncapped Matty Potts are the two other seamers named in England's Test squad, with fitness issues sidelining Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes, Ollie Robinson, Olly Stone, Saqib Mahmood and Matt Fisher.
