A Farewell That Wasn’t Entirely His Choice
It’s been a full year since James Anderson played his final international match for England. The setting was Lord’s, the opponent was the West Indies, and the moment was emotional—with his family and closest friends there to witness a legend bow out. But behind the scenes, it wasn’t the swan song Anderson had envisioned.
In a candid column for The Times, Anderson revealed that he didn’t step down from international cricket entirely of his own volition. Instead, the decision was nudged along by England’s team management.
“I retired from international cricket last year, but not entirely willingly,” he wrote. “I had a meeting with the captain, coach, and director in April. They said they wanted to move in a different direction and bring in younger players ahead of the Ashes.”
Anderson had hoped to be a part of that Ashes series. In fact, retirement hadn’t even crossed his mind at the time. “I was still bowling as well as I ever had, and my body was in good shape,” he said. “I was looking forward to the Ashes.”
Despite the decision, he stayed on with the team in a coach and mentor capacity—but deep down, the desire to play was still strong. “I felt I still had an itch to scratch,” he added. That led him back to where it all began: Lancashire.
Back in Red-Ball and T20 Cricket with Lancashire
While many fast bowlers would have comfortably retired by age 42, Anderson is proving that age is just a number—especially for someone who’s anything but ordinary. Still hungry for competition, he returned to Lancashire, playing both red-ball cricket and taking part in the T20 Vitality Blast.
Now, with a year of domestic cricket under his belt, Anderson shows no signs of slowing down. Next month, he will debut in The Hundred, having been signed by the Manchester Originals. For a bowler once known for destroying batting lineups across continents, it’s yet another chapter in an already legendary career.
Reflecting on how things ended with England, Anderson understands the logic but still finds it bittersweet. “All sport needs young people coming onto the scene, but you have to balance that with age and experience,” he wrote. “I wasn’t angry, though my wife was—probably still is. But then she’s always been my biggest supporter.”
Anderson’s story is far from over. He may no longer wear the Three Lions, but on English soil, he continues to inspire fans and cricketers alike—proving that passion, experience, and a little bit of stubbornness can still go a long way.
