James Anderson, England’s all-time leading wicket-taker, has said in an exclusive interview with Wisden that he only has “one or two years” left as an international cricketer.
Anderson has taken 514 wickets – the third-most by a seamer behind Glenn McGrath and Courtney Walsh – in 131 Tests and he enjoyed a stellar summer, being named Man of the Series against West Indies. The 35-year-old continued his impressive form by taking his maiden five-wicket haul in Australia in the second Ashes Test at Adelaide but speaking to Wisden Cricket Monthly prior to the series he conceded that his England career was nearing its end.
“I don’t know how long I’ve got left, but it won’t be long, one or two years, whatever it is,” he told Felix White in an exclusive interview from the December issue of Wisden Cricket Monthly. “I’m not going to be able to play international cricket until I’m 40, realistically. I’m hoping there might be a bit more freedom the other side of playing.”
Anderson adds that even in the twilight of his career he never stops learning from teammates and opponents. “Playing against Vernon Philander recently, he only bowls 78 miles an hour but I watched him and learnt a lot,” he says. “It’s the easiest thing to do. I just watch cricket. Even this season, I’ve watched most of the county wickets on the ECB app, every day I’m on them. I’m finding out who’s doing well.”
To read the James Anderson interview in full, as well as exclusive interviews with Jonny Bairstow, Desmond Haynes and Graham Thorpe, buy a copy of issue 2 of Wisden Cricket Monthly
