At 42 years old, James Anderson, the most successful fast bowler in Test cricket history, has hinted that he may not be done with his playing career just yet. Although he recently retired from international cricket following England's victory over the West Indies at Lord's in July, Anderson's journey on the field might not be entirely over.
While Anderson didn't officially announce his retirement from all forms of cricket, his swift move into a coaching and mentoring role with the England team led many to believe that his playing days had come to an end. However, Anderson, who has taken 704 wickets in 188 Tests, has expressed a willingness to extend his career by exploring opportunities in short-form cricket.
Reflecting on his future, Anderson mentioned that he's not fully decided on his cricketing career, despite acknowledging that his time playing for England has likely concluded. He expressed interest in shorter formats, particularly after watching The Hundred and noticing how the ball swings in those games. Anderson feels confident that he could still perform well in the shorter formats, even though it's been a while since he last played them.
Anderson plans to make a final decision regarding his career at the end of the summer, keeping his options open and not ruling anything out. His last appearance in a 20-over match was back in 2014, as he focused the last decade on red ball cricket.
Meanwhile, England is eager to retain Anderson’s wealth of experience in a coaching capacity, particularly with an eye on the upcoming 2025 Ashes series in Australia.