'It's in some ways, a little bit sad to see him go' - Joe Root expresses sentiments on James Anderson's departure from international cricket

Unexpectedly, there have been a significant number of notable cricketers who have both commenced and concluded their careers, yet the legend of James Anderson remained active in English whites, tirelessly wielding the shiny red cherry. While former skipper, Joe Root, remains active still, there exists a natural inclination to cling to cherished memories and the companionship associated with Anderson for a long time.

Notably, Root has been a steadfast companion of the pace legend while featuring in 110 out of 188 Tests. He led the side which had Anderson in it on 46 occasions, second only to Alastair Cook's 49. Root, who made his debut alongside Anderson in the team in Nagpur in December 2012, acknowledged that he will deeply lament the absence of his close comrade on the field.

Root expressed a complex mix of emotions, reflecting on Stuart Broad's departure in 2023 and James Anderson's exit while lamenting the impending absence of playing alongside both legendary bowlers. However, Root also highlighted the positive aspect of the pacer's continued presence as a bowling consultant during the English summer, foreseeing valuable mentorship for younger bowlers through the veteran's wealth of experience and psychological insights shared in the dressing room. Root acknowledged the heartfelt send-off Anderson received but also confessed to feeling a tinge of sadness seeing him depart.

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"It's a bit of a weird one, seeing Stuart [Broad] go last year and [now] Jimmy. I'll terribly miss playing alongside him, but the fact that he'll be around for the summer will be great for the young bowlers coming through and for us to keep using that experience and everything else he has to offer the dressing room. I'm really pleased that he's been able to have the send-off that he deserves but also, it's in some ways, a little bit sad to see him go," stated Root, as attributed by ESPNcricinfo.

My focus purely is on scoring as many runs for this team: Root

When queried about his eventual retirement plans and the timing of his departure from cricket, Joe Root nonchalantly and humorously brushed aside the topic, expressing confidence in his longevity in the sport. He emphasized his dedication to accumulating runs for the team and contributing to victories, underscoring his unwavering commitment to achieving success on the field.

Also Read: Ben Stokes hints at James Anderson's involvement in Ashes 2025

"Oh here we go. Not at the minute. I'd like to think I'll be playing for a good while yet. My focus purely is on scoring as many runs for this team as I can and helping us win as many games as we can," Root added.

England have enlisted Mark Wood into their squad for the upcoming second Test against the West Indies at Trent Bridge, scheduled for Thursday. The 34-year-old fast bowler steps in to fill the void left by the retired Anderson. This selection places Wood in contention for a single available seamer position, competing alongside his county compatriot, Matt Potts, and the untested 25-year-old, Dillon Pennington, from Nottinghamshire.