James Anderson is having one of his worst-ever Test series having taken only 4 wickets in 3 Tests at a poor average of 76. He will turn 41 on the coming July 30th.
At his age while most pacers have given up playing even domestic red-ball cricket, England veteran James Anderson wants to be around the Test team for longer.
Ahead of the 5th Ashes 2023 Test, to be played at The Oval in London, James Anderson wrote in his colum for The Telegraph that the captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum want him around and he’s not retiring at the end of the series.
There have been a lot of speculation about whether James Anderson would retire after the Ashes, or, worse, whether England should think of dropping him given his poor returns in the series so far.
Anderson admitted that he hasn’t been at his best in this series, but there are no thoughts of retirement yet.
“I still feel like I’m bowling well. I have certainly not had the returns I would have liked in this series. Everyone goes through a lean patch but you just don’t want it to be in the most high-profile series we play,” James Anderson wrote in his column for The Telegraph.
“Ten or 15 years ago the debate would be about whether I should be dropped. Now it is about my future. I understand that. It is The Oval, the end of a series and a time for speculation.
“I keep talking to the coach and captain. They want me around, so as long as I am still hungry, want to put in the work then I will keep trying to give my best for the team. That is exactly where I am at the minute.”
Will England drop James Anderson for 5th Test at The Oval?
James Anderson added that he’s enjoyed his time under Ben Stokes and McCullum, even though Australia have retained the Ashes.
England have retained the same 14-man squad from the 4th Test for the fifth Test. But with England desperate to not lose the series, they might replace James Anderson with Josh Tougue who brings extra pace and bounce with him.
“I’ve chatted to a few of the guys because it is frustrating when you go through this,” he wrote. “You are frustrated and desperate to help the team, desperate to win games.
“But unfortunately for me it was not to be this series. I’ve still got another game to go if I do get a chance and I will try and do the best I can.”
