James Anderson solely focusing on overtaking Shane Warne in farewell Test? Stuart Broad gives a bold response

James Anderson is playing his final Test match at Lord's. This will be his 188th and the final one of his career. England have won the toss and opted to bowl first.

They have taken early wickets dismissing the top three but Anderson is yet to take a wicket in his final match. Anderson is on 700 Test wickets and is eyeing to topple Shane Warne's tally of wickets.

The spin legend is on 708 Test wickets and Anderson needs nine more to topple him and go second in the list of all-time wicket-takers in Test cricket. Muttiah Muralitharan leads the list with 800.

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Stuart Broad who has been a longtime partner with Anderson for England, said that the 41-year-old could have half an eye on overtaking late Australian great Shane Warne's tally of 708 wickets but his real focus would still be on England winning the match.

“He might have half an eye on Shane Warne's Test wicket tally of 708 if he has a really good week but he will just want to walk off the pitch winning the game,” said Broad in a column for Sky Sports.

"I know he is nearly 42 and this will be his 188th Test but he will feel some nerves this week, no doubt. He won't shy away from that. He'll know a lot of eyes are on him and that people will be hoping and wishing he does something really special," he wrote further.

Stuart Broad further shared his views on the topic of James Anderson's being an unlikely contender to play the next Ashes series. With England still to play 18 Test matches before the next Ashes series, Anderson is unlikely to play in the next Ashes confirmed former skipper Andrew Strauss.

"I don't think they are questioning whether he is in their best team right now. For me, there is no doubting that. Against West Indies and Sri Lanka at home with the moving ball, he is in your XI. But they are thinking about what England need to regain the Ashes in Australia in 2025/26 and they need to give exposure to those types of bowlers and see if they are good enough at Test level. At the moment, they are slightly unproven," he wrote in his column.

James Anderson To Mentor England After Retirement

Meanwhile, there are reports that James Anderson will not leave the England squad after the end of the first Test against West Indies. He will be with the squad for the next two Tests as the mentor of the side.

The Windies have lost half their side batting first on day 1 with Anderson yet to pick up a wicket in his final Test match.

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