NEW DELHI: Robert Key, managing director of England’s cricket team, stated that pace bowler James Anderson‘s choice to end his 21-year illustrious career was the right one as the nation looks to assemble a team for the future.
Anderson declared on Saturday that he would be leaving Test cricket after the July first game of the series against the West Indies at Lord’s.
Just two weeks shy of turning forty-two, Anderson will play his final Test match at Lord’s, where he made his England debut in 2003.
His 700 Test wickets are second only to the all-time records of Australia’s Shane Warne (708), and Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan (800).
“We said ‘we think it’s time for us to move on, that we have to start looking towards the future’,” Key told the BBC Test Match Special County Cricket podcast.
“This is the right decision and this is the right time. Hopefully he gets a fantastic end at Lord’s.”
Head coach Brendon McCullum flew over to England to hold talks with Anderson over his future, Key said.
“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 said.
“We felt it was right that Jimmy and the public had the opportunity to say goodbye. We didn’t impress upon him that he needed to make the decision there and then. Not so long ago he decided the Lord’s game would be his last.”
From July 10-14, England will play the first game of a three-Test series against the Caribbean team.
(With Reuters inputs)
Anderson declared on Saturday that he would be leaving Test cricket after the July first game of the series against the West Indies at Lord’s.
Just two weeks shy of turning forty-two, Anderson will play his final Test match at Lord’s, where he made his England debut in 2003.
His 700 Test wickets are second only to the all-time records of Australia’s Shane Warne (708), and Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan (800).
“We said ‘we think it’s time for us to move on, that we have to start looking towards the future’,” Key told the BBC Test Match Special County Cricket podcast.
“This is the right decision and this is the right time. Hopefully he gets a fantastic end at Lord’s.”
Head coach Brendon McCullum flew over to England to hold talks with Anderson over his future, Key said.
“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 said.
“We felt it was right that Jimmy and the public had the opportunity to say goodbye. We didn’t impress upon him that he needed to make the decision there and then. Not so long ago he decided the Lord’s game would be his last.”
From July 10-14, England will play the first game of a three-Test series against the Caribbean team.
(With Reuters inputs)
