England great Anderson ‘at peace’ with Test retirement

England’s legendary cricketer James Anderson acknowledged on Monday that he has accepted his imminent retirement from Test cricket, despite feeling that he is currently bowling at his peak as he approaches his 42nd birthday. His 188th Test match, starting Wednesday against the West Indies at Lord’s, will mark the conclusion of a remarkable career spanning two decades.

Anderson, holding the record for most Test wickets by a fast bowler with 700 scalps, revealed that the decision to retire was essentially made for him during a meeting in late April with England’s managing director Rob Key, red-ball coach Brendon McCullum, and Test captain Ben Stokes. They outlined plans for squad changes ahead of the 2025/26 Ashes series in Australia.

Reflecting on the meeting, Anderson stated, “I had a feeling it wasn’t just a routine review when the three senior figures invited me to Manchester. Surprisingly, I remained calm when they broke the news. Since then, I’ve processed it and made peace with their decision.”

Despite feeling in top form after a successful seven-wicket haul for Lancashire last week, Anderson recognized the inevitability of his retirement from Test cricket. He expressed a desire to contribute meaningfully in his final match and acknowledged the emotional challenge of bidding farewell to a Test career that began 21 years ago at Lord’s against Zimbabwe.

Looking ahead, Anderson plans to mentor England’s young fast bowlers for the remainder of the season but has yet to decide on his future with Lancashire beyond this week.