James Anderson has revealed that he has a strong desire to continue playing cricket, despite retiring from Test matches in July. The 42-year-old, England’s leading wicket-taker, has been serving as a coaching consultant for the national team since his retirement.
In August, Anderson hinted at the possibility of playing in franchise cricket, with interest coming from the United States, as well as the option of continuing with his domestic team, Lancashire. “I have a couple of months to decide what to do next year, but in my mind, I would like to keep playing,” Anderson said. “I still feel fit and have the urge to hold a cricket ball again. Whether anyone is interested in taking me on is a different matter.”
When asked about his lingering desire to play, Anderson admitted to BBC Sport, “I definitely still have that itch. I do miss it and enjoy coming to the nets to practice.”
Anderson has not participated in white-ball cricket since 2019, and his last T20 match was in 2014. Last summer, he made a notable performance for Lancashire in the County Championship, taking 7 wickets for 35 runs against Nottinghamshire.
While he is uncertain about whether he prefers red-ball or limited-overs cricket, Anderson confirmed he will be part of England’s coaching staff for the upcoming Test series in New Zealand in November and December.
His recent participation in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship golf tournament led to some debate, as he joined England’s tour of Pakistan late, arriving on the second day of the first Test, which England won. Head coach Brendon McCullum expressed some frustration over Anderson’s absence before the match.
Anderson addressed the situation, stating, “I didn’t accept that invitation before discussing it with Baz. I’m not full-time with England; I’m a consultant. He didn’t see an issue with it, and I remained in contact with the bowlers. Ultimately, it didn’t affect our performance.”
Reflecting on his previous tours, he noted, “The last few tours I went on didn’t have a bowling coach, so it’s good for the younger players to take on some responsibility. In the end, it didn’t matter, did it?”
Anderson’s passion for the game remains strong, and his future in cricket could see him return to the pitch in some capacity.