Having become the first quick to reach the landmark of 600 Test wickets earlier this week, England’s James Anderson has admitted to feeling frustrated over fielding questions regarding his future.
Speaking to press after reaching the milestone in the third Test against Pakistan, the 38-year-old admitted to eyeing up another Test visit Down Under next year, revealing that Test skipper Joe Root has asked him to make the 2021/22 Ashes tour.
“I’ve chatted to Rooty about this a little bit and he said he would like me to be in Australia,” said Anderson. “I don’t see any reason why I can’t be.
“I didn’t bowl as well as I liked for the whole summer, but this Test I felt like I was really on it. I feel like I’ve still got stuff to offer this team and as long as I feel like that I’ll keep going.”
Anderson’s pronouncement followed on from his quashing of retirement rumours after the first Test against Pakistan in which he returned match figures of 1-97; he bounced back to finish with 11 wickets in the three-match series.
Speaking to Test Match Special on Friday, Anderson expressed frustration over the speculation on how long he will play on for.
“The thing that frustrates me the most is the fact that there’s so much focus on the number that’s next to your name: 38, which it’s become this summer,” said Anderson. “People seem to think you can’t have much long left whereas, the way I feel, the way I’m bowling, I feel like I could carry on for a long period of time. But who knows how long it’s going to be? I don’t want to put a number on it. I don’t want to think too far ahead. But I certainly want to keep playing for a little bit longer.
“Annoyingly, I do occasionally get in the habit of reading stuff in the media as well and that’s something I should avoid. It does frustrate me seeing, you know – ‘We need extra pace in Australia, I’ll [Anderson] be 39 then’. But to be honest, I’ll keep trying to improve. If I’m good enough to get in the Test team in a year’s time, hopefully I’ll be on that plane to Australia and make the team.”
