James Anderson has expressed that he is "at peace" with his impending retirement from Test cricket, even though he didn't have much say in the decision. He feels he is still "bowling as well as ever."
Anderson will play his 188th and final Test against West Indies at Lord's this week, having been informed by England's management at the start of the season about their plans to move forward without him. He will retire as the most prolific fast bowler in Test history, with his 700th wicket achieved at age 41 during the tour of India in March.
His England career will conclude at the same ground where he took a five-wicket haul on his Test debut 21 years ago. Anderson admitted it would be an emotional few days, stating that he is trying not to think too much about the game itself yet. He emphasised his focus on playing well, bowling well, and securing a win for the team.
Reflecting on whether he is retiring too soon, especially after claiming 7 for 35 in his first appearance of the season for Lancashire last week, Anderson remarked that he didn't really have a choice. He expressed a desire to finish with strong performances and shared his love for playing with Lancashire, despite the northwest weather preventing a win last week.
When asked if he could have stayed fit enough for the 2025-26 Ashes, Anderson said it was "impossible to say." He explained that throughout his career, he has never focused too far ahead, always taking it series by series. He understands the team's decision and has made peace with it over the past couple of months.
Anderson acknowledged that, coming off a seven-wicket haul, he still feels like he is bowling as well as ever. However, he recognised that his career had to end at some point, and he has accepted that the time is now.
This summer, Anderson will remain with the England team as a mentor and is expected to transition into coaching. He has not yet decided whether he will continue playing for Lancashire.
He confirmed that he had not considered retirement before a meeting with England men's managing director Rob Key, Test coach Brendon McCullum, and Test captain Ben Stokes. Although he had a suspicion about the nature of the meeting, he felt comfortable with how it was handled. Anderson appreciated the reasoning behind the decision and has since come to terms with it, looking forward to his final game and the future beyond it.