James Anderson to retire from Test cricket after Lord’s Test
Legendary England bowler James Anderson announced that he will retire from Test cricket after the first Test match between England and the West Indies, which begins on July 10 at the storied Lord’s Cricket Ground. The seasoned player announced his intention to retire from international cricket in a post on social media.
The fast bowler is currently third in the list of all-time leading wicket-takers in Test cricket after the legendary Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne.
In the purest form of the game, Anderson is 9 wickets short of surpassing Warne’s record of 708 scalps with 700 wickets from 187 Tests since 2003.
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Back in March, at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala, Anderson bowled Kuldeep Yadav to become the only pacer in Test cricket history to have 700 wickets.
“Hi everyone. Just a note to say that the first Test of the summer at Lord’s will be my last Test. It’s been an incredible 20 years representing my country, playing the game I’ve loved since I was a kid. I’m going to miss walking out for England so much. But I know the time is right to step aside and let others realise their dreams just like I got to, because there is no greater feeling,” he wrote in the Instagram post.
‘Excited for new challenges’: Anderson
“I’m excited for the new challenges that lie ahead, as well as filling my days with even more golf. Thank you to everyone who has supported me over the years, it’s always meant a lot, even if my face often doesn’t show it,” said via a statement.
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As reported by ‘The Guardian’, England’s Test team coach Brendon McCullum reportedly told Anderson that they are considering the future and have their sights set on the Ashes in Australia in 2025–2026 which means his career may be coming to an end.
According to the report, McCullum flew from New Zealand to the UK to tell Anderson about his plans for the future while they were playing golf.
With the departure of Stuart Broad and Anderson from their bowling unit, a magnificent period in English fast bowling came to an end. Anderson explained that he ended his career because he wanted the next generation to represent England.
