James Anderson: “I Feel Like I Could Play for 10 More Years”

James Anderson, one of England’s all-time greatest bowlers, is getting ready to retire from Test cricket after a stellar 21-year career. On July 10, the 41-year-old will take on the West Indies in his farewell Test match at Lord’s.

Even if he still has a part of him that wishes he could live another ten years, James Anderson understands that it is time to give way to the next generation. Since making his Test debut in 2003 at the age of 20, Anderson has become a legendary figure in English cricket. He went on to become the most successful fast bowler in Test history, taking a record 700 wickets.

Even in his latter years, he still possesses exceptional technique when it comes to moving the ball both directions quickly. He needs eight more wickets to tie the all-time record held by the legendary Australian Shane Warne for second place.

“I feel like I could play for ten years in my head. I understand that’s not practical. Every now and again when I wake up, I regret retiring. I’m satisfied with it 90% of the time. Athletes seldom have the opportunity to retire after age 40. In an interview with Tailenders, he stated, “I’m glad I made it this far.”

How much of that was me is unknown to me: James Anderson

James Anderson clarified that outside noise was the reason he was thinking about retiring all the time. He disclosed that in the later stages of his career, speculation regarding his whereabouts was a hot topic of conversation.

“There have been two or three instances when I’ve wondered, ‘Do I want to still be doing this?’ if the opposition is 500-3. Nothing about them has stayed with me for longer than a moment,” he continued.

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I’m not sure how much of that was me and how much was the noise that aging brings in from the outside world. It’s been like this for the past six years, or maybe longer: “How long can you carry on for? That has been really taxing all by itself for the past few years, he said.