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[Saba Sports News] After a brilliant 21-year career, James Anderson, one of England’s greatest-ever bowlers, is preparing for his Test retirement. The 41-year-old will play his final Test match against the West Indies at Lord’s starting on July 10th.
While part of Anderson still wishes he could keep playing for another decade, he acknowledges it’s time to make way for the next generation. Anderson has been an iconic figure in English cricket since his Test debut in 2003 at age 20. He has taken a record 700 Test wickets, more than any other pace bowler in history, showcasing his skill with the red ball and ability to move it both ways at a good pace even late in his career. He is just eight wickets shy of tying Shane Warne’s record for second on the all-time list.
“In my head, I feel like I could play for 10 years. I realize that is not realistic. Some days I wake up and wish I was not retiring. Ninety per cent of the time I’m happy with it. Not many people in sports get the chance to retire over the age of 40. I’m happy I’ve made it this far,” Anderson said on the Tailenders podcast.
He explained that the decision to retire was influenced by constant external discussions about his future. “There’s been two or three moments on the field, if the opposition are 500-3, I’ll be thinking, ‘do I want to still be doing this?’ They are fleeting thoughts, nothing that has stuck with me for more than an over,” he added.
“I don’t know how much of that was me, and how much it was the external noise that comes with ageing. For the last six years, or even longer, it’s been, ‘how long can you go on for?’ That in itself, certainly for the last couple of years, has been quite draining,” Anderson concluded.