"Still want to play.." James Anderson eyes T20 comeback with franchise leagues

James Anderson has played only 44 T20 matches in his career.

Legendary England seamer James Anderson retired from international cricket in July this year. The Lancashire speedster played his final test match against the West Indies at the iconic venue Lord’s.

The 42-year-old Anderson ended his illustrious international career as England’s all-time leading wicket-taker in both ODIs and tests. The veteran pacer bagged 704 wickets in 188 test matches and scalped 269 wickets in 194 ODIs.

After announcing his international retirement, Anderson remains associated with the national side. He is working with the England test team as a mentor in the ongoing home season.

I can still do that: James Anderson ponders T20 return

The legendary English seamer Anderson last played a T20 match in 2014 in The Blast.

Speaking to The Final Word cricket podcast, the 42-year-old said that he wants to play more. On his potential T20 comeback, he pointed that the new ball is swinging considerably in the ongoing The Hundred tournament.

“I feel there is something there, that I still want to play a little bit more. Things will become clearer as the rest of the year progresses. There’s two Test tours in the winter and I’m not sure I’ll be on them in this [mentor] role,” said James Anderson.

“I watch the Hundred and see the ball swinging around in the first 20 balls and I think: ‘I can do that, I can still do that.’ I don’t know if that is a viable option, to maybe see if I could do a job in white-ball cricket. Franchise cricket is something I’ve never done,” he added.

My body has at no stage started to feel like it’s 42: James Anderson

Anderson has aged like a fine wine and had very few major injury issues over the past decade. He feels he can still play domestic cricket.

“I still feel [playing domestically] is not off the table. The way that my body feels, the way I have been bowling in recent years, I still feel I could potentially have something to offer on that front. My body has at no stage started to feel like it’s 42. I will dive around the tennis court and I will still dive around the field when I’m playing for Burnley CC in five years’ time, until I literally can’t move. That’s why I want to keep going. I feel I was made to bowl quickly, to be a bowler, so while it’s still functioning, use it,” James Anderson added.

“Bowling at the England lads in the nets, you have to have change-ups and slower balls. We constantly work it, so I don’t think [the skills and variations] will be an issue. But I don’t know how much people will want a 42-year-old bowler in their team so we’ll have to wait and see.“

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