James Anderson, the veteran fast bowler from England, is planning to retire from Test cricket after the upcoming home season.
According to a report in The Guardian, the experienced fast bowler has decided to retire after a chat with head coach Brendon McCullum, who expressed his plans to focus on the future, aiming for the 2025-26 Ashes series. McCullum delivered the news to James Anderson during a round of golf in the UK, where he flew in this week.
Anderson, who debuted internationally in December 2002, has cemented his place as one of the greatest fast bowlers in history. He holds the record for the most wickets taken by a pacer in international cricket, with 987 wickets in 400 matches. Only Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne have more wickets overall. During England’s recent tour of India, the 41-year-old achieved another milestone by taking his 700th Test wicket, becoming the first fast bowler to reach this feat.
As reported by The Guardian, McCullum traveled from New Zealand to the UK for a five-day trip specifically to meet Anderson and discuss the future plans for the Test team. The focus seems to be on building a team for upcoming series, including the Ashes in 2025-26, when Anderson will be 43 years old. England is scheduled to play three Tests against West Indies in July and three more against Sri Lanka in August. Anderson’s potential farewell match could be the first Test against Sri Lanka at his home ground, Old Trafford.
With Anderson nearing the end of his career and Stuart Broad already retired, England will need to revamp their pace attack. McCullum and captain Ben Stokes faced their first series defeat during the recent tour to India, losing 1-4 against the Indian team. This signals the need for a fresh approach and new talent in the squad.
James Anderson will retire from Test cricket with an unparalleled record, cementing his place as England’s most accomplished bowler and one of the finest pacers the game has ever seen. His tally of wickets in the longest format remains unmatched by any other fast bowler, solidifying his legacy as a true legend of the sport.
