Cricket legend James Anderson has revealed that retirement from international cricket was not his choice, admitting he still feels he could have played on and that his wife remains upset about the decision.
Retirement Was Not On His Mind
Despite being 42 years old and an icon of the game, James Anderson confessed he was not ready to hang up his boots when England’s management decided it was time for him to move on.
“I’ll be honest, retirement was not in my head,” Anderson told The Times. He felt his bowling was still strong and his body was in good shape, even looking forward to the Ashes series.
Anderson, who holds the third spot for most Test wickets with 704 in 188 matches, believed he was performing well enough to retain his place. While he understood the need for new talent, he expected his performance and fitness to be the deciding factors.
The Difficult Conversation
The decision to retire him from international cricket came during a meeting with England coach Brendon McCullum, captain Ben Stokes, and ECB Managing Director Rob Key, about two months before his official retirement in July last year.
They informed him of their intention to move in a “different direction” and bring in younger players. Anderson wasn’t angry, but he admits his wife, who has always been his biggest supporter, was — and probably still is — very upset by the news.
Still On The Pitch: Life After England
Even after his international farewell, Anderson’s passion for cricket hasn’t waned. He briefly served as a mentor for the England team on a couple of tours, but felt he “still had an itch to scratch.”
He signed a one-year contract with his county team, Lancashire, earlier this year. He has been actively playing in both the T20 Blast and the County Championship, even captaining the team in the absence of Marcus Harris.
Beyond Playing: Coaching and Podcasting
While still active on the field, Anderson is also looking ahead to his post-playing career. He co-hosts a popular podcast called “Tailenders” with Greg James and Felix White, enjoying the foray into media.
He has also dipped his toe into punditry and commentary but feels a strong competitive drive that still needs to be satisfied. Watching former teammates like Freddie Flintoff transition into coaching has inspired him.
For Anderson, coaching seems like the “inevitable way forward.” He clearly loves the game deeply and wants to continue contributing his vast knowledge and experience.
- James Anderson felt he was still good enough to continue playing international cricket when he was retired.
- His wife remains upset about his forced international retirement.
- He continues to play for Lancashire in county cricket and T20 Blast.
- Anderson is exploring options like podcasting, commentary, and sees coaching as his likely future path.
Anderson’s journey highlights a player’s enduring love for the sport, even when the national team moves on.
