James Anderson: 'Proud' England seamer signs off after record-breaking 21 years at the top

After playing 188 Test matches and taking 704 wickets over a span of 21 years, James Anderson has officially retired from his England career. It's amazing to think that in the beginning, he questioned his future in international cricket.

If it weren't for his family stepping in and attending his last emotional Test match at Lord's, where England won by an innings and 114 runs against the West Indies in just three days, the bowler might have been let go from the team for missing the entire 2006 season because of injury.

There have been times when it seemed like the end could be near - such as being excluded from the team with Stuart Broad for the 2022 West Indies tour and the thrilling tied Ashes series last year.

This blog post is brought to you by Twitter, and they may be using cookies and other technologies. In order to view this content, we need your consent to use cookies. You can adjust your preferences by clicking on the buttons below to enable Twitter cookies or to allow them temporarily. You can always modify your settings through the Privacy Options. We are currently unable to confirm if you have agreed to Twitter cookies. To access this content, you can click the button below to allow Twitter cookies for this session only.

However, his strong desire to compete and constant drive for improvement have been the key factors in his success. Despite facing challenges, he has managed to remain at the pinnacle of his sport at the age of 41. His determination has solidified his place in history as the best fast bowler England has ever produced.

In early 2006, I suffered a stress fracture after a one-day series in India. I had to stay home wearing a corset for about six weeks. During that time, I questioned my skill level and wondered if it was worth going through the pain. Anderson shared this with Sky Sports.

I took a break from playing cricket for six months, but my family encouraged me to keep pushing myself and work on rehab so I could return to the game.

During The Ashes last year, I managed to take five wickets in the series before Broady retired. It made me wonder if it was time to call it quits, but I knew I had to keep striving to get better.

I have faced challenges in my career, but my passion for the sport and my dedication to honing my skills have always motivated me to keep going.

While Anderson's retirement from Test cricket may not have happened exactly how he wanted, he was able to end things where it all began back in 2003, at the famous Lord's Cricket Ground. He managed to take a wicket in the West Indies' first innings, three more in their second, and ended the match with overall figures of 4-58. However, he missed out on a perfect ending when he dropped a crucial caught and bowled chance that would have sealed the victory.

This means he has ended his Test bowling career in third place on the all-time list, with only four wickets less than the legendary Shane Warne (708) and a lead of exactly 100 wickets over the next closest fast bowler, his former teammate Broad, who retired last year.

The record set by the right-arm seamer is unlikely to be exceeded by any other fast bowler and shows how Anderson has continuously pushed the boundaries and exceeded expectations of what seamers can achieve in his career. However, he has always focused on not becoming complacent and always striving for more.

We recommend using the Chrome browser to easily access the video player.

"I've never truly felt fantastic at any point," Anderson explained. "It might sound odd, but I always strive to consider, 'How can I improve for the upcoming series?'.

"I attribute my longevity in the game to my mindset of always seeking improvement and continually striving to raise the bar for myself in order to remain competitive at this high level."

Being a fast bowler is tough, but I believe you need a hint of enjoyment in causing pain to excel in this role. The physical toll may be daunting, but I have always embraced the challenge and taken pride in my duties on the field.

After a long day of bowling 25 overs on the field, I often feel sore and in pain. My feet ache, my legs ache, but that's just part of the game. Despite the discomfort, I don't mind the feeling of struggling to get out of bed or sit on the toilet first thing in the morning because it means I gave my all on the field.

For the best viewing experience, we recommend using the Chrome browser to access the video player.

Anderson will feel sad about not being able to compete with the batter, strategizing on how to outsmart the opponent on the opposite side, and enjoying the camaraderie in the locker room with his teammates after a well-deserved win.

Out of those achievements, the last one holds a special place in his heart compared to all the other accomplishments he has achieved in his career. He was able to fully enjoy that emotion one final time after assisting England in taking a lead of 1-0 against the West Indies in this series of three matches.

Anderson said that he was aware it would be his final opportunity to play, so he simply wanted to savor every moment. He tried to absorb the energy of the environment and relish in participating in something he has enjoyed for over two decades - running in, attempting to take wickets, and having fun utilizing his abilities.

I am extremely proud of my accomplishment of playing cricket for 21 years. It has been a challenging journey, especially for a fast bowler like me. I feel fortunate to have avoided major injuries throughout my career.

To have an easier time watching the video player, we recommend using the Chrome browser.

I have been solely focused on achieving victory in series and Test matches ever since I joined this team.

Anderson is no longer playing for England and is still deciding if he will play for Lancashire in county cricket. However, he will still be involved with the national team as a mentor for young seamers.

Players like Gus Atkinson, who was named player of the match in the victory against the West Indies for taking 12 wickets in his first Test match, will definitely gain from his experience.

Anderson is committed to being available when others require his assistance instead of imposing himself on them. This mirrors the approach of head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes, who have shared leadership of the Test team.

We recommend using the Chrome web browser to easily access the video player.

"It will feel unfamiliar because you won't be participating in the way you usually do," Anderson explained about his new position.

I believe that Stuart and I, nearing the end of our careers, were tasked with sharing our knowledge and making younger players feel at ease and ready to perform at their peak in the team. I think this is an important role for a bowling coach at this elite level.

We have had five new players achieve a five-wicket haul since Baz and Stokesy became leaders, which speaks volumes about the positive atmosphere within our team.

"I am here to offer support and be a supportive presence for them whenever they require assistance."

Tune in to Sky Sports Cricket on Thursday to catch the live coverage of day one of the second Test match between England and West Indies at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. The action starts at 10am, with the first ball set to be bowled at 11am.

Watch Sky Sports On NOW | Advertise Here

Watch Sky Sports live without a contract by signing up for a monthly or daily membership on NOW. Get immediate access to live sports coverage including football, darts, cricket, F1, tennis, golf, rugby league, rugby union, and much more.