Robert Key, the managing director of cricket for England, stated that the decision made by pacer James Anderson to stop his outstanding career after 21 years was reasonable in light of the fact that England is currently working to construct a team that will be successful in the future.

Key has now disclosed how the team's management determined that Anderson's tenure was over, following his announcement on Saturday that he will retire from international cricket following England's first Test against the West Indies in July.

"We said 'we think it's time for us to move on, that we have to start looking towards the future. This is the right decision and this is the right time. Hopefully, he gets a fantastic end at Lord's. We had a conversation for about an hour and a half, which Baz led. I don't think Jimmy was expecting it, but I don't think it was completely unexpected," Key told the BBC Test Match Special County Cricket podcast.

Two weeks before he turns 42, Anderson, will play his final Test match at Lord’s in July against West Indies. With 700 Test wickets, he is just behind the records held by Shane Warne (708) and Muttiah Muralitharan (800) of Sri Lanka.