James Anderson Rules Out Retirement, Eyes 700 Test Wickets After Scaling Herculean 600-Wicket Milestone

The 'Burnley Express' who has spearheaded England's seam bowling attack for over a decade has no plans of retiring any time soon after accomplishing the monumental 600-wicket milestone and also being the first seam bowler in the format's history to get to the stupendous landmark

James Anderson entered an elite league of Test bowling legends when he became only the fourth bowler in Test cricket's history to claim 600 Test wickets. At the ripe old age of 38 and a veteran of 156 Tests for England, Anderson is not finished and is very much hungry to attain the next big landmark..Mount 700 wickets.

After the drawn Southampton Test against Pakistan which also meant that England clinched the 3-match series, Anderson revealed that the England management has asked him to continue until the next Ashes in 2020-21 and he is very much keen to be part of the much famed series against arch rivals Australia.

"I've chatted to Joe [Root] about this a little bit and he has said he would like me to be in Australia," Anderson said. "I don't see any reason why I can't be. I'm working hard on my fitness all the time. I'm working hard on my game.

"I didn't bowl as well as I'd have liked for the whole summer. But in this Test, I was really on it and I feel like I've still got stuff to offer this team. As long as I still feel like that I think I'll keep going. I don't think I've won my last Test matches as an England cricketer yet.

"Can I reach 700? Why not?"

It is rare for a pace bowler to have such longevity but Anderson, who will be 39 when the next Ashes begins, is focused on the World Test Championship and stated that he would keep proving his worth.



"We're still in the Test championship," Anderson said. "There are still series ahead of us and Test matches to win. That's all I'm really interested in.

"I still love turning up every day at training, putting in the hard yards and being in the dressing room with the lads trying to forge a win for England. That's all I've really ever bothered about and what I'll keep trying to do. I'll keep working hard in the gym and keeping myself available for selection.

"There will be decisions along the way with the selectors and coach and captain around how the team moves forward but as long as they want me around I'll keep working hard and try to prove I'm good enough to play in this team."

Joe Root, who is involved in 18 catches off Anderson's bowling including his 600th wicket on Tuesday, lauded the England pacer for his incredible feat.