England's iconic fast bowler, James Anderson, recently shared his thoughts on his retirement from international cricket and revealed that he believed he could have continued playing until the 2025 Ashes in Australia. Anderson, who hung up his boots earlier this summer, finished his Test career with 704 wickets from 188 appearances, making him one of the most prolific seamers in the history of the game.

Anderson's decision to retire was not entirely his own, as he admitted in a candid interview with Sky Sports. He was informed by England head coach Brendon McCullum ahead of the 2024 West Indies series that he was no longer in the team’s plans for Test cricket. Despite this, Anderson felt he was in prime form and could still contribute at the highest level.

“I always thought in my head I could make The Ashes at the end of next year,” Anderson stated. “But obviously, they didn’t think that I could. I would have carried on and I will carry on still playing in some shape or form.”

While Anderson was confident in his abilities, McCullum’s decision was part of a broader strategy to refresh England’s bowling lineup with younger talent. Anderson acknowledged the challenge but understood the need for progression in the team. “I think that’s part of the fun of being a professional sportsperson, to constantly find things to improve on. Especially in cricket, which is a heavily skill-based sport, there’s always something else to look into and try.”

Anderson also took a moment to reflect on his debut for England in 2003, reminiscing about his first experience playing in Australia. “The Australian fans made sure I knew about it as well,” he said, recalling the hostile atmosphere of his ODI debut at the MCG. “They were giving me a fair bit of abuse. But it was so eye-opening, playing for the first time at the MCG having only played county cricket before.”