James Anderson, England’s most-capped Test bowler, has quashed rumours suggesting he was considering Test retirement, reiterating that he wishes to continue playing for England at least until the 2021/22 Ashes.
Anderson, who is currently on 590 Test wickets, an England record, spoke to the media two days after the conclusion of the first Test between England and Pakistan, where he picked up just one wicket in the side’s three-wicket win. While he closes in on the becoming the first seamer to pick up 600 wickets, Anderson admitted that he felt “frustrated” after a sub-par bowling performance in the first Test.
“No, there’s not, absolutely not [any truth to him considering his England future],” he said. “It’s been a frustrating week for me personally because I have not bowled very well. I felt out of rhythm. Probably for the first time in ten years, probably got a little bit emotional on the field. Started getting frustrated, let that get to me a little bit and probably reminded me when I first started playing, when you actively get frustrated, little bit angry, try and start bowling quicker and quicker and that doesn’t help on the field.
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“To me, it’s a case of trying to want to get down to Southampton, work really hard next couple of days, trying and figure out if there are any technical issues – sort them out, and just try and work hard and hope I get enough for the next game, so that I can try and show people that I’ve still got what it takes to play Test cricket.”
In April, Anderson, along with his long-time bowling partner Stuart Broad, admitted that they were planning one final Ashes campaign next year, which will be their seventh Ashes as a pair. When asked if he is still eyeing the Australia tour next year, Anderson said that he is still hungry to play as long as he can, but wants to better his bowling efforts after a lacklustre outing in the first Test.
"I’ve always said, have two English-type seamers, so I’d probably go Broad and Woakes, and one tearaway, Archer or Wood."
Would you leave out Anderson for the second #ENGvPAK Test?https://t.co/Wv4tU086E6
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) August 8, 2020
“Absolutely yeah,” he said. “To be honest, it’s not like a focus of mine or anything. I want to keep playing for as long as I can possibly can. If I keep bowling the way I did this week, the opportunity to retire will be taken out of my hands, it will be a selection issue. For me, I am still hungry to play the game. I think the frustration for me this week has been after one bad game, sort of whispers that go around. Don’t think that’s really fair.
“I am still hungry. Experiencing a win like that this week is why we play the game. Everyone has a bad game now and then.”
