25 July 2023 , 10:25
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James Anderson may have endured a disappointing Ashes series so far, sparking suggestions he may well have played his last game for England, but Saqib Mahmood believes he can keep going until he's FIFTY.
Before this series, Anderson had picked up 45 wickets at an average of 17.62 in 10 Tests under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, playing a key role in their 'Bazball' revolution. However, after missing the Ireland Test after picking up a groin strain while playing for Lancashire in the County Championship he has struggled to get back to his best.
Anderson has admitted to feeling "a bit of rustiness" coming back from the injury, but his record of just four wickets at 76.75 in three Ashes Tests has led to suggestions his England career could be over. However, with Anderson set to turn 41 during the final Ashes Test this week, fellow England seamer and Lancashire teammate Mahmood believes he has plenty more left in the tank.
"I'd like to think he's going to keep playing on after this," Mahmood told the PA news agency when asked about Anderson's future. "He's been so consistent, he's just had a little blip over the last few weeks and I am sure he will come good.
"You don't get that many wickets without blips in your career, so I don't think that is any biggie. In a few years' time after he retires or whenever that may be – he'll probably play until he's 50 now – is when you'll realise I was around a very special cricketer and he'll go down as one of the best in the game."
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When asked if Anderson really could continue playing until he is 50, Mahmood responded: "Probably. Because he's as fit as ever. He just seems to keep playing and keep getting better.
Saqib Mahmood believes James Anderson can continue playing until he is 50-years-old (Jan Kruger/Getty Images)"His record over the last 12, 18 months is as good as anyone's, I would imagine." Fellow England seamer Reece Topley, meanwhile, described Anderson as a "unicorn" and believes he is "not far off a hatful of wickets".
"He's almost like a unicorn in the sense that it's unheard of," Topley said. "There's no magic pill or anything like that, it's just hard work. He'd a master of his craft, he's worked at his craft and that mindset has surely translated into looking after his body as well.
"I'm sure every fast bowler is going to have him on speed dial, if he does hang them up, to tap into some of his secrets. I know he's had a relatively quiet series but he's obviously got the class and it wasn't that long ago that we were all singing his praises so I'm sure he's not far off a hatful of wickets, no matter if it is his last Test."