England captain Ben Stokes has revealed his desire to see James Anderson transition into a fast bowling coach role following the legendary seamer’s retirement from Test cricket. Anderson brought down the curtain on a glittering career with four wickets in England’s innings victory over West Indies at Lord’s.
New Role for James Anderson?
Ben Stokes is keen to leverage James Anderson’s unparalleled experience and knowledge of the game to nurture the next generation of English fast bowlers. The England captain believes that Anderson’s insights could be invaluable as the team prepares for the Ashes in Australia in 2025.
“If he’s got the desire to help bowlers progress like he did with his own career, honestly I can’t think of a better person to able to influence all the fast bowlers,” Ben Stokes said.
Anderson, who finished his Test career with 704 wickets, has expressed his willingness to support the team in a mentoring capacity. “I’m definitely not going to tell someone how to bowl,” he said. “I’ll be a sounding board – I’ll be there if they need me.”
Boost for England’s fast bowling attack
While James Anderson’s retirement is undoubtedly a loss for the England team, Stokes’ plan to retain his services as a mentor could prove to be a masterstroke. With Anderson’s guidance, England’s young fast bowlers could benefit immensely from the wisdom of one of the greatest seamers of all time.
The role of fast bowling coach is currently occupied by Neil Killeen, though his involvement with the Test side has been limited. Anderson’s potential appointment could signal a significant change in the coaching setup for England’s pace attack.
