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New Delhi: James Anderson, arguably one of the most legendary bowlers ever to have played Test cricket, surprised all by announcing plans for a comeback to the cricket field, only a month after retirement from international cricket. Now 42, Anderson is mulling over making a comeback to short-form cricket nearly a decade since the last T20 match he played in the 2014 T20 Blast final for Lancashire.
“I might be in a bit of denial because I’m well aware I won’t play for England again, but I’ve still not made a decision on my actual cricket career,” Anderson told PA Media.
“There’s definitely a bit of intrigue with the shorter formats because I’ve not played any franchise stuff before. Watching the Hundred this year, seeing the ball swing around, it makes me feel like I could do a job there.”
Following his retirement, Anderson has transitioned into a coaching role in the England setup. However, the idea of living a life completely retired does not sit well with the legendary pacer. Although Anderson shifted his focus towards mentoring the next generation, he had not ruled out making a comeback into competitive cricket. The fast-paced and high-stakes environment of franchise leagues could provide a new challenge for him in the twilight of his career.
He said he will consider a potential return to T20 cricket after the end of the summer.
“Once this summer is done, I can sit down and have a real think if I want to play cricket in some shape or form again next year.
“I’m quite open at the minute to thoughts of any sort of cricket. I’m still fit enough to play, and I’m not shutting myself off to anything. It’s hard to know if there’ll be any interest from people wanting me to play in that sort of thing, so we’ll wait and see.
“I know it’s a while since I played it and my age will get brought up again, but I really feel I’ll be good enough to play that form of cricket.”
Whether Anderson decides to carry on playing or not, his current status as England’s fast-bowling mentor puts him in a perfect position to play a vital role in the team’s preparation for the 2025 Ashes series. Captain Ben Stokes has already voiced his desire to have Anderson around the squad in this capacity, and Anderson claims being involved in this way is the “next best thing” to playing, further epitomizing how important he will remain to this team.
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