Former England batter David Lloyd has accused the England Cricket Board (ECB) and head coach Brendon McCullum of pressuring legendary pacer James Anderson into retirement. Anderson played his final Test earlier this week, securing a four-wicket haul in the first Test against the West Indies at Lord's. He retired with an impressive tally of 704 Test wickets, placing him third on the all-time list behind Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Shane Warne (708). Anderson reportedly discussed the future with McCullum, who informed him of the team's plans to rebuild ahead of next year's Ashes in Australia. Drawing from his own experiences, Lloyd criticised how age is being used as a reason to force people out of work in today's "era of inclusivity."
Reflecting on Anderson's retirement, Lloyd expressed sadness, noting that Anderson was still performing exceptionally well, displaying accuracy, pace, and stamina. He argued that Anderson was forced out due to his age, despite still being one of the best bowlers. "In this era of inclusivity, it's ironic that someone has been pushed out for their age. I know the feeling all too well. Inclusivity, my foot," Lloyd wrote in his column for the Daily Mail.
Lloyd also commented on England's quick victory over the West Indies within three days, criticizing the International Cricket Council (ICC) for unequal wealth distribution. He pointed out that international cricket should be a contest among equals, but financial disparities have left some teams at a disadvantage. Lloyd urged the big three cricketing nations—India, England, and Australia—to reconsider their approach to revenue sharing to ensure fairer competition. He highlighted the West Indies' contributions to cricket and the drastic changes in the financial landscape that have left them struggling.
The second Test between England and the West Indies is set to take place on July 18 at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.