Former England pacer Steve Harmison feels that veteran pacer James Anderson should have announced retirement from International Cricket following the completion of the high-octane Ashes series on the home soil alongside his bowling partner Stuart Broad.
The 41-year-old’s place in the team came under the scanner after his poor form in the Ashes series. The England pacer could not make an impactful performance for his team in the Ashes series, as he picked up only five wickets across four games, as he could not find swing and seam movement with the new ball and the reverse swing in the old ball.
Speaking to the media, Steve Harmison said that he would love to see James Anderson retire from the game after the end of the fantastic ashes series and believes that he was unlucky to be injured before the start of the series as he failed to get his rhythm back throughout the series.
“I’m not sure how long I see Jimmy holding out for, I would have loved to have seen him retire this week. Not because of ability and age, I just think going out at the top against Australia is always the best way to go,” he added.
“He’s been unlucky this series as he got an injury just before the first Test and missed a bit of cricket. I thought he didn’t have that zip that’s made him so potent for a number of years. Whether that’s just out of rhythm or the age factor, only Jimmy knows,” Steve Harmison said.
James Anderson has 690 wickets at an average of 26.42, with 32 five-wicket hauls. The 41-year-old is behind the Legendary former spinners Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Shane Warne (708) are above England great on the list but could not make an impact performance for the team in the Ashes series.
Will England Even Take Him To India? – Steve Harmison
Steve Harmison feels that the England pacer can play as long as he wishes to play for the country but feels the team management needs to decide his future in England colours and questioned about his inclusion to the India series where they would not much purchase for the seamers.
“He deserves to go out when he wants to. But England have got a decision to make. They can’t work on fairytales, they have to work on practicality. Is Jimmy going to be one of their best three seamers in India over those five Test matches? He might play one or two, but can he get through to next summer? Will England even take him to India?” Steve Harmison added.
After the 5th test against Australia, Stuart Broad announced his retirement from all formats of international cricket. The 37-year-old is one of the few bowlers to have bagged 600 wickets in Test cricket and has been a mainstay for England in the longer format of the game alongside James Anderson.