I'm still bowling as well as ever, says Anderson

James Anderson feels he is still bowling arsenic good arsenic ever arsenic he prepares to play nan last Test of his legendary England profession against West Indies astatine Lord's this week.

The 41-year-old will front retired connected 188 caps aft nan England guidance told him they want to move connected to younger gait bowlers pinch a position to nan 2025-26 Ashes tour.

Anderson, England’s all-time starring wicket-taker pinch 700 Test scalps, took 7-35 for Lancashire against Nottinghamshire past week.

"I knew it had to extremity astatine immoderate point, whether it's now aliases a twelvemonth aliases 2 years," he said. "The truth that it's now is conscionable thing that I've sewage to woody pinch and accept."

Anderson added that he had "not really sewage a choice" complete nan conclusion of his 21-year Test career, pursuing talks pinch England Test skipper Ben Stokes, coach Brendon McCullum and managing head Rob Key successful April.

Before then, Anderson said he had not thought really he would extremity his clip arsenic an England player, but thought taking a afloat portion successful this year's location summertime was "achievable".

"I wouldn't opportunity it was a surprise, because erstwhile nan 3 large dogs invited maine to a edifice successful Manchester for a chat I didn't deliberation it was conscionable a normal appraisal," he said.

"I had a suspicion that that was going to beryllium nan case. I deliberation they were amazed astatine really calm I was and I was astir apt amazed astatine my reaction. I wasn't overly affectional aliases angry astir it.

"I saw their constituent of position and appreciated them taking nan clip to laic it retired for me. Since past I've travel to position pinch it and made bid pinch that decision. I’m conscionable looking guardant to 1 much crippled and past spot what's ahead."

Anderson became nan first gait bowler to scope 700 Test wickets successful his past England appearance, against India successful Dharamsala successful March.

By his standards, it had been a comparatively slow crawl to nan landmark, pinch 18 wickets successful his erstwhile 8 Tests.

But successful his only quality for Lancashire this season, Anderson showed his people astatine Southport past week, taking nan champion figures by immoderate bowler successful nan County Championship truthful acold this year.

Following his Test retirement, Anderson will instantly subordinate nan England coaching squad arsenic a mentor. He said he is improbable to play for Lancashire again this year, but did not norm retired playing connected adjacent season.

"Coming disconnected nan backmost of seven-for past week, evidently I consciousness for illustration I'm still bowling arsenic good arsenic I ever have," he said.

"If I consciousness for illustration I tin still lend to Lancashire aliases they request me, past I'm judge that's a speech we'll person successful nan adjacent fewer months."

With Anderson's long-time new-ball partner Stuart Broad retiring aft past year's last Ashes Test, it intends England's 2 starring Test wicket-takers will exit successful back-to-back location Tests, albeit almost 12 months apart.

Broad enjoyed a fairytale departure, hitting nan last shot he faced arsenic a batter for six, past taking a wicket to triumph nan Test pinch his last transportation arsenic a bowler.

Anderson said that was a "lot to unrecorded up to" and he feels "normal" going into nan concluding section of his storied England career.

"I'm trying not to deliberation excessively overmuch astir nan crippled itself yet, aliases really I'd consciousness astir it," he said. "The large point for maine this week is wanting to play well, vessel good and get a win.

"I'm judge nan emotions during nan week will change, but correct now that's what I'm trying to attraction connected to extremity myself crying."