James Anderson Rules Out Retirement As He Eyes 700 Test Wickets

Not very long ago, speculations were rife over the future of James Anderson in international cricket. In fact, the situation got so much out of hands that the bowler himself had to say publicly that he has no plans of retiring from the game anytime soon.

And on Tuesday, James Anderson reiterated the same. After becoming the first pacer in the history of Test cricket to take 600 wickets, the England legend said he still “loves” Test cricket and is not ruling out taking 700 wickets and playing in another overseas Ashes series.

The veteran pacer dismissed Pakistan captain Azhar Ali to join spinners Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne and Anil Kumble as the only players to reach 600 Test scalps. And he has made it clear he has no intentions of slowing down at the moment.

“Why not?” said the fast bowler when asked about pushing up towards 700 Test wickets. “I feel like I still have a lot to offer this team and as long as I feel like that I will keep on going.

Apart from entering the 700 club, James Anderson is also eyeing another Ashes tour to Australia in 2021-22 after saying he still “absolutely loves” playing Test cricket:

“Rooty said he would like me to be in Australia. I don’t see any reason why I can’t be,” he was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.

“I absolutely love [playing Test cricket],” he told Sky Sports. “There is no better feeling than putting the boots on, going out there and doing what I love doing.

“There has been hard work involved in developing those skills so I can go out there and bowl the way I do. I still get satisfaction from putting a hard shift in, putting 25 overs in a day.

“I still enjoy putting the yards in in the nets, making those tweaks with my technique to make sure I am in good shape going into Test matches. I still enjoy the stuff in the gym. I think that’s why I keep going,” he added.

Meanwhile, the third Test ended in a draw too as England won the three-match series 1-0. The hosts had won the series-opener before the second Test was marred by rain and had ended in a draw. The series win is England’s first over Pakistan since 2010.

Also Read: Glenn McGrath Compares James Anderson To Sachin Tendulkar After England Legend Enters 600 Club

Also Read: England vs Pakistan 2020: One Bad Session Cost Us The Series, Says Azhar Ali