‘Thank you to everyone who has supported me’ - Jimmy Anderson set to retire after Lord’s Test against West Indies

In a major development for England Cricket, veteran pacer James Anderson has announced that he will be retiring from international cricket after the team’s first Test of the home summer against West Indies at Lord’s, starting July 10. Playing during the Ashes in England last summer, Anderson had only claimed five wickets from four outings, and his subpar form continued in the recent India series as well.

The veteran pacer announced his decision over Instagram, where he penned a heartfelt note to his fans and expressed his gratitude to everyone who has supported him over the years. 

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An absolute legend of the game, James Anderson has played exactly 400 matches for England, where he has taken a whopping 987 wickets and is considered one of the greatest bowlers of all time. Despite playing his last ODI for England in 2015, Anderson still leads the chart for England with 269 wickets.

“It’s been an incredible 20 years representing my country, playing the game I’ve loved since I was a kid. I’m going to miss walking out for England so much. But I know the time is right to step aside and let others realise their dreams just like I got to, because there is no greater feeling,” Anderson captioned his post on Instagram. 

“I couldn’t have done it without the love and support of Daniella, Lola, Ruby and my parents. A huge thank you to them. Also, thank you to the players and coaches who have made this the best job in the world. I’m excited for the new challenges that lie ahead, as well as filling my days with even more golf,” he added.

It is worth noting that according to several reports, England Test head coach Brendon McCullum visited the UK from New Zealand and had a chat with Anderson that the English team is looking to make changes in their squad and aiming to provide opportunities to the youngsters. 

According to the report, England are looking to prepare for the 2025/26 Ashes series in Australia, and Anderson is not expected to feature for the side in the series.