James Anderson has “come to terms” with his impending retirement from the England national team – even though the evergreen seamer is convinced that he is currently bowling better than ever before.
As they look to the future, with a particular focus on the 2025-26 Ashes trip to Australia, England’s management team informed Anderson in late April that they would part ways with him this European summer.
He turns 42 this month, but Anderson warmed up for his final 188th Test appearance against the West Indies at Lord’s, which begins on Wednesday, with a seven-wicket win for English county club Lancashire last week.
But Anderson, whose 700 Test wickets are a record for a non-spinner, stressed he was excited about the future after agreeing to stay on as a fast bowling mentor for England’s red-ball team for the rest of the summer.
“I feel like I’m still bowling as well as I ever have,” Anderson said. “But I knew it had to end at some point, whether now or in a year or two.”
“The fact that it has now come to this is something I have to deal with and accept. I have come to terms with it over the last few months. I can fully understand the decision and the path that the team and management want to take.
“I’d just like to contribute somehow this week. Whether it’s a wicket or whatever, I’d just like to contribute a little and win the game.
“I’m really excited about what I can contribute to this team, certainly for the rest of the summer and maybe beyond.”
Although Anderson’s international career is coming to an end, he has not yet made a decision on whether he will continue playing for Lancashire, where an end at Emirates Old Trafford is named after him.
“This week will probably be my last first-class cricket game of the season, but we will have to wait and see what happens,” he said.
“I’m going to talk to the people at Lancs and see what we do in the future. It’s hard to weigh things up because my feelings are all mixed up.”