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Veteran English fast bowler James Anderson is expected to retire from Test cricket this summer following a meeting with head coach Brendon McCullum.
According to The Guardian, McCullum traveled from New Zealand to personally inform Anderson that the team is planning for the future, with a focus on building a bowling attack for the Ashes series in 2025-26. By then, Anderson will be 43 years old. England has six Tests scheduled this summer against West Indies and Sri Lanka, including one at Anderson's home ground, Old Trafford, in late August. This is likely to be his final hurrah in Test cricket. This decision highlights Anderson's immense dedication to the sport. Despite recently achieving the monumental feat of claiming his 700th Test wicket and expressing his fitness and enthusiasm for the upcoming season, a face-to-face discussion was necessary to manage the transition.
However, his underwhelming performance in the prior Ashes series (few wickets, high average) and recent struggles (18 wickets in 8 matches at an expensive average) cast doubt on his guaranteed selection in the Test team.
“I’ve got to work hard to prove I’m worth a place,” Anderson told the Tailenders podcast.
When Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes took the reins as Test captain and head coach two years ago, they embraced a "live-in-the-moment" philosophy. They even recalled veteran bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad, who were dropped by the previous captain. Their aim was to maximize the remaining potential of these decorated players.
Last summer, Broad opted to retire on a high note, claiming a wicket with his final ball in an Ashes Test. However, the 41-year-old Anderson wasn't ready to hang up his boots just yet. He received a new contract and continued playing through the winter.
However, England's recent crushing defeat in India, their first under the Ben Stokes-McCullum leadership, has led to a shift in perspective. They acknowledge their aggressive batting approach needs adjustment and recognise the need to develop a pool of younger fast bowlers in preparation for the upcoming Ashes tour Down Under.
Asked at the end of the India tour whether Anderson could make that trip, McCullum replied:
“I don’t know, honestly. Who knows where the end line for him is but for now, just enjoy having Jimmy around and make sure we utilise that experience he’s got. He’s a great resource for the other guys within the unit.”
One reason McCullum hasn't had a dedicated fast bowling coach is two-fold: to streamline communication within the team and to leverage James Anderson's vast experience (over 20 years in Test cricket). This final summer offers a golden opportunity for England's young seamers – Josh Tongue, Matthew Potts, and Brydon Carse, as mentioned by McCullum, – to learn from this living legend.
Ollie Robinson's inclusion remains uncertain. While he possesses undeniable talent, his recurring fitness issues raise concerns, especially compared to Anderson's remarkable longevity. This upcoming season marks Anderson's 23rd year as a professional, and he needs just nine more wickets to surpass Shane Warne and become the second-highest wicket-taker in Test history, trailing only Muttiah Muralitharan.
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