England tour of West Indies: James Anderson hopes drop isn’t the end – England legend James Anderson believes he still has a lot to offer to the Test team and hopes that his omission from the West Indies tour is not the end of his international career. The 39-year-old has the most wickets in history by a pacer but was dropped alongside long-time partner Stuart Broad as England went for youth over experience in their Caribbean tour. Anderson turns 40 in July and has no plans to retire despite his disappointment on being dropped from the team. Follow Insidesport.in for all WI vs ENG Live updates.
England tour of West Indies: James Anderson has no plans to retire despite controversial axe, says “I’m praying this isn’t the end”
Following their 4-0 humiliation Down Under in the Ashes, England’s selection panel made a bold but controversial call of sacking both James Anderson and Stuart Broad as part of a major shakeup. The decision was taken by interim director of cricket Andrew Strauss, Ashely Giles and coach Chris Silverwood, with the latter two now sacked from their roles.
Speaking to the BBC Tailenders podcast, James Anderson said that he was shocked and disappointed after not being called up but had no plans to retire just yet. He said, “It’s been a weird couple of weeks. I’ve just been trying to process what’s gone on. Obviously it was a bit of a shock and a disappointment to get that call to say I am not going. I’m praying this isn’t the end.”
England tour of West Indies: Anderson believes he is getting better with age and numbers back up his statement. The 39-year-old’s average of 23.37 in the Ashes the lowest of all England’s bowlers, in the 44 Tests since his 35th birthday he has taken 160 wickets at a miserly 21.72.
He added, “I do still feel like I’ve got a lot to offer. Since I’ve turned 35 my record’s got even better so I know that I’m not slowing down, I’m not losing anything. I’ve got one more go at digging deep, I’ve dug deep quite a lot over the last 20 years but I still love playing the game, I still loved bowling out in Australia even though the results didn’t go our way.”
England tour of West Indies: James Anderson has no plans to retire despite controversial axe, says “I’m praying this isn’t the end”
England captain Joe Root, speaking ahead of the squad’s departure Thursday, echoed Andrew Strauss in saying he too had told Anderson and Broad their Test careers were not finished.
Anderson and Broad have taken a combined 1,177 Test wickets. None of the fast bowlers selected for the West Indies have taken 200, with only Ben Stokes (167) and Chris Woakes (125) into three figures.
England tour of West Indies: Woakes has an expensive bowling average of 52.38 in overseas Tests, compared to 22.63 in England. Root, however, said he had “not had the opportunity to bowl with the new ball away from home”.
“But it’s not just Chris, it’s other guys who can step up as well. The likes of Mark Wood had a fantastic tour of Australia, bowled with heart, great passion, speed, endurance, being able to do it for long periods of time. It’s a chance for him to grow and develop as a player as well. And really, I want those guys (to) step into that void and enjoy that challenge, and enjoy becoming more senior within the group,” Root added.
The series begins in Antigua on March 8, with the second Test in Barbados commencing on March 16 and the third in Grenada starting on March 24.
England tour of West Indies: James Anderson has no plans to retire despite controversial axe, says “I’m praying this isn’t the end”
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