James Anderson on his legacy after England beat West Indies

James Anderson expressed his desire to be known as a respectable bowler as he concluded his remarkable England cricket career with a win against West Indies.

Anderson claimed another wicket as England secured a victory in just three days, finishing with a total of 704 wickets and now ranking third among all-time Test bowlers.

In a highly emotional and joyous moment at Lord’s, Anderson was warmly welcomed by both teams with a guard of honour at the start of the day. Later, he was seen standing on the England balcony while fans were allowed onto the field, creating a truly memorable sight.

"I have a lot of passion for the sport, and I hope that my love for bowling has inspired others to take up the game," the 41-year-old expressed.

It brings me joy to know that people enjoy watching me bowl and that there are individuals, both young and old, who have become interested in swing bowling after seeing me in action. This thought brings me great satisfaction.

Anderson, who holds the record for the most wickets taken by an English player, is considered one of the greatest fast bowlers in cricket history. He is only behind spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne in terms of all-time wickets taken.

Throughout his 21-year career, he earned 188 Test caps, which is more than any other England player. However, he acknowledged that he is stepping away from the game without ever considering himself a "great" player.

"You have your highs and lows," he said to Sky Sports. "In some series, you feel great and in others, you're not quite at your best and a batter outperforms you."

When facing Virat Kohli in the beginning, you may have felt confident in getting him out with every ball, but recently it seems impossible to dismiss him. The feeling of inferiority is palpable.

I have never felt amazing in any phase of my life. It might sound odd, but I have always asked myself, "How can I improve for the next challenge?" This mindset has kept me motivated and playing for a long time.

Anderson admitted to questioning whether his time as a cricketer was coming to an end during the Ashes series last summer. In those four Test matches, he only succeeded in taking five wickets.

He made it through the India tour and achieved the milestone of being the first fast bowler to reach 700 wickets during the final Test match. However, he has decided to retire from international cricket as the England management expressed their desire to give opportunities to younger bowlers.

Additionally, despite being a key player in four Ashes series victories, Anderson admitted he did not dominate in cricket matches against Australia. In contrast, his bowling partner Stuart Broad consistently excelled against England's longtime competitors.

Anderson admitted he never felt like he met his full potential, unlike Stuart. He mentioned that there were moments when he may have been putting in too much effort.

Anderson will quickly join the coaching staff for the England cricket team, serving as a bowling mentor for the upcoming second Test match at Trent Bridge.

The leader of the England team, Ben Stokes, mentioned that Anderson might join the coaching staff for the Ashes series in Australia in 2025-26.

Anderson has stated that he will probably not participate in county cricket for Lancashire during the upcoming summer season. However, he has left the door open for a possible comeback in 2025, when he will be close to 43 years old.

Anderson spoke to Test Match Special, expressing uncertainty about what the future holds. Having never retired before, he finds it challenging to anticipate how he will feel.

I have a strong desire to win, no matter the task. Competitiveness is a trait that defines me. The thrill of competition is something I will truly miss.

"Analyzing a batter's skills and flaws to gain an advantage over them has always been a source of pride for me. It's a skill I will definitely miss."