James Anderson is one of the most prolific cricket player in recent times. The English pacer is looked upon as one of the best red ball bowlers in the history of the game, Anderson has played over 150 tests for the England Cricket team taking over 580 wickets in what has been a splendid career so far.
The lanky fast bowler is on the wrong side of the ’30s and nearing retirement age for a fast bowler. In a career crippled with injuries, match fitness has always been an issue for Anderson. James had to miss out on the entire home campaign of the Ashes last season after injuring himself on the maiden day of the first test. The veteran’s comeback didn’t last long either as the speedster broke his rib again after playing just 2 additional test matches.
However, The pandemic outbreak of the Covid-19 virus has affected the world severely. It has brought the world to a standstill with many countries being completely lockdown for safety and to contain the spread of the virus. Many major sporting events have either been postponed or canceled in the wake of the coronavirus affecting the globe. With no update on any sort of competitive cricket in the foreseeable future, James Andrson might just have bowled as an international cricketer for the last time.
Speaking about the same, the English veteran said, “I’ve not actually thought about never playing cricket again. I feel like we will play again and I will play again at some stage. But with the uncertainty of what’s happening at the moment, Think it would be silly to not think about not bowling a ball this summer. To me at the moment that’s pretty realistic with the situation around the world.”
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He continued with, “But long-term I think I’m still going to play. Whether we get some games in the winter, I feel like I could play a part. I’m still hungry to play, I’ve still got ambitions to play for England so I think that’s going to keep me driven at home trying to keep fit so that whenever it is we play again I’m ready to go.”
Making a comeback isn’t something new for the English international as he returned to international cricket helping his team draw level a test series by scalping 7 wickets including a fifer. LAter o, England went on to win the 4 match test series comfortably by a 3-1 margin.
Speaking about his comeback the 37-year-old fast bowler commented “I had mixed emotions that week. I was delighted with the way I played and I think having missed most of the summer [Ashes 2019], it was nice to put in a performance and get some wickets and get a win as well. To get injured again was a big frustration. But it was lucky in a way that was a broken rib. If it was a muscle injury it would have taken much longer to recover.”
He continued speaking about his bowling and the fitness level he is trying to maintain once international cricket resumes. James also reveals about his ambition of getting called up for England one more time.
“I’ve been doing pre-season with Lancashire for a couple of months now and feeling really good. I was ready and raring and to go be honest. My bowling was as good as it has been, my speeds were good and fitness felt good. As and when it happens, whether it’s this summer whether it’s the winter, my plan is to try and get back into that England team and hopefully the next time I do I’ll be able to stay fit for a little bit longer.”
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The Englishman leaves us with a comment on the deadly pandemic spread of the Covid-19 virus. Originated in China, the virus has now affected more than 532,900 people taking 24,000 lives. Anderson belive the virus has helped him put everything under a scanner and reunderstand the perspective.
“Something like this puts everything in perspective really. Cricket has been a huge part of my life for quite a number of years, but you see the importance of it, in the grand scheme of things, isn’t that great. What people are sacrificing in the NHS and sadly people are losing their lives to this virus so there are much more important things in the world.”
Jame ended with,” The fact I’ve been able to do this for a long time and I get to play a sport as a job means when I do get to do that again I’m really going to cherish it and enjoy every single moment.”
