(Source X)
Former England Test pacer James Anderson might make a surprising return to white-ball cricket after announcing his retirement from international play. Anderson, widely celebrated as a red-ball legend, has hinted at the possibility of participating in the Hundred League, expressing confidence in his ability to compete at a high level.
Recently, Anderson concluded his Test career following the first Test against the West Indies. Despite his age, Anderson, who is now over 40, maintained remarkable fitness and a strong desire to continue playing. His retirement marked the end of an era as he is widely regarded as one of the greatest Test fast bowlers of all time. He bid an emotional farewell at Lord’s Cricket Ground, but his journey in cricket may not be over just yet.
The right-arm pacer has conveyed a keen interest in exploring opportunities in the white-ball format, particularly in T20 leagues. Although he has not yet made any definitive career decisions, Anderson has suggested that he might engage in domestic cricket, having never played franchise cricket before. With the ongoing Hundred League showcasing favorable conditions for swing bowling, he feels there could be a role for him.
Anderson plans to evaluate his future after the summer and remains open to returning to cricket next year, acknowledging the potential challenges ahead. In a recent conversation with PA News, he affirmed that he is in excellent shape and ready to contribute to the game.
“I might be in a bit of denial because I’m well aware I won’t play for England again but I’ve still not made a decision on my actual cricket career. There’s a bit of intrigue with the shorter formats because I’ve not played any franchise stuff before. Watching The Hundred this year, and seeing the ball swing around, makes me feel like I could do a job there.
“Once this summer is done I can sit down and have a real think if I want to play cricket in some shape or form again next year. I’m quite open at the minute to thoughts of any sort of cricket, I’m still fit enough to play and I’m not shutting myself off to anything. It’s hard to know if there’ll be any interest from people wanting me to play in that sort of thing so we’ll wait and see. I know it’s a while since I played it and my age will get brought up again but I really feel I’ll be good enough to play that form of cricket.”
I still need to see if this is what I’m passionate about – James Anderson
James Anderson, who currently serves as a mentor for the England Test team, expressed his deep affection for Test cricket. He shared that he would relish the opportunity to act as a mentor for the team during the Ashes series. However, he acknowledged that such a role would ultimately be determined by the head coach and captain.
“My love for Test cricket is always going to be there and the Ashes is the biggest thing you can be involved in as an England player. If you’re not playing then the next best thing is trying to help the team from the sidelines.
“It’s still a long way away and I still need to see if this is what I’m passionate about. Stokesy and England need to decide if I’m the right man for the job too. So far, so good, but you never know,” he concluded.
