James Anderson says he is ‘praying’ that his England career is not over after being left out of the squad for next month’s tour to West Indies. England will play the first Test against West Indies on March 8 in Antigua, while the three-match series will conclude on March 29.
The 39-year-old England’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker with 640 scalps, said he felt “frustration and anger” after being dropped and believes he still has more to offer.
James Anderson Praying Axe For Caribbean Tour Doesn’t Mean End Of His Career
James Anderson and his long-time bowling partner Stuart Broad were both dropped from the Test squad following the Ashes defeat.
James Anderson said, “I’m praying this isn’t the end but if I never play for England again, I know I’ve got amazing people around me to support me and that’s really important. I’ve got a lot left to offer – I’ve still got the hunger and passion to play.”
“There is likely to be a new director of cricket and new head coach so I just hope that whatever decision is made, it is talked about in the way that it should be. Another frustration for me is that it was just a five-minute phone call – it doesn’t really clear much up for you,” Anderson further said
“It was a shock and a disappointment to get that call but having processed it, it’s important I try to focus on stuff I can control and that’s showing people what I can do with the ball in my hand. I’ve got one more go at digging deep,” added James Anderson.
Stuart Broad, who is England’s second-highest Test wicket-taker with 537 in 152 matches, vented his frustration at a similar scenario when he broke his silence on being dropped in an emotional column. Stuart Broad picked up 13 wickets from three Tests in Ashes 2021/22 in Australia at a decent average of 26 and still sees himself as being in England’s best Test side.
Also left out are opening batters Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed, No.3 batsman Dawid Malan, spinner Dom Bess, wicketkeeper-batsmen Jos Buttler, and Sam Billings. Recalled to the side is wicketkeeper Ben Foakes while four uncapped players are included: opening batsman Alex Lees, seam bowlers Saqib Mahmood and Matthew Fisher, and legspinner Matt Parkinson.
James Anderson To Feature For Lancashire In County Championship
Like Stuart Broad, James Anderson is desperate to regain his place in the England team this summer and will feature for Lancashire when the County Championship starts in April.
“It was a shock and a disappointment to get that call but having processed it, it’s important I try to focus on the stuff I can control and that’s showing people what I can do with the ball in my hand,” he said.
James Anderson has snapped 640 Test wickets from 169 Test matches, the most by any fast bowler, and is only behind Australia’s Shane Warne (708) and Sri Lanka’s spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan (800) in the list of leading Test wicket-takers.
James Anderson, who will turn 40 in September, has the appetite to serve the England cricket team in white colours and won’t consider retirement despite being dropped from the squad for one series.