‘Completely understand and I've made peace with that’ - James Anderson on team management’s decision to look beyond him

James Anderson’s decision to retire from international cricket wasn’t a choice of his, but rather, the team management forced the situation to arise. The Ben Stokes-led side wanted to focus on the future, in which, the legendary seamer didn’t fit in, especially keeping The Ashes 2025 in mind. The decision was rather surprising given Anderson’s impact in red-ball cricket, but the think tank is hopeful to build new stars in the pace department and make England compete better against the big nations.

Anderson meanwhile was in no mood to retire. The pacer felt that he still had what it took but the 41-year-old had nothing to say as the decision was already made. Speaking about that, the Burney-born seamer stated that he understands the vision of the team management and added that he has made peace with the decision. 

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The entire conversation was based on whether Anderson makes it to The Ashes 2025, to which, he had no answer. Being 41, he stated that it’s very far away and he couldn’t make a decision as 18 months before Ashes 2023, Anderson didn’t know whether he would make it. However, he is hopeful for a better finish and excited to see what the future holds.

“Throughout my whole career, I've never really focused on too far ahead. I've always tried to take it series by series and focus on those little goals. as my career has gone on. It's really impossible to say. I probably thought before the last away Ashes that I wouldn't make [it] 18 months before that because of the way the game is and the age I was getting to. I can completely understand the decision and the way the team and management want to go. As I've said, the last couple of months I've made peace with that and I'm excited to see what the future holds,” Anderson was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

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“Coming off the back of seven-for last week, obviously I feel like I'm still bowling as well as I ever have. I knew it had to end at some point, whether it's now or a year or two years. The fact that it's now is just something that I've got to deal with and accept,” he added.