James Anderson might retire at the end of Test series against India: Steve Harmison

Pace bowler James Anderson has been a regular in the England Test side for several years now. The veteran has been a key player for the Three Lions and has been the star player for them on several occasions even at this age. However, he might be nearing the end of his final days as a player in the game. At least that is what former England pacer Steve Harmison believes. Anderson, who has already retired from ODIs and T20s, only plays the longest format of the game for his country. Harmison made a bold prediction on Monday, stating that the cricketing legend could very well hang up his boots at the end of the series against India.

The 39-year-old cricketer is one of only two England bowlers that have taken more than 300 wickets at home in Test matches. The other person is Stuart Broad. Fred Trueman is third in the list of highest wicket-takers in England, with 229 wickets. Among the leading wicket-takers at home, Anil Kumble is third, with 350, followed by Broad (341 wickets), and Shane Warne (319 wickets). The 39-year-old has been in top form in the series, having already taken 13 wickets at 16.25 and a strike rate of 47.7. This year, he has taken 30 wickets at 19.79, including two five-wicket hauls.

‘A FUNNY FEELING’

Although Harmison’s statement is based on gut feeling rather than any solid proof that Anderson is indeed thinking about hanging his boots, he sounded quite serious about it on a Talksport podcast. “I’ve got a funny feeling, I don’t know what it is, but I really have got a funny feeling that Jimmy Anderson will retire at the end of Old Trafford,” the former England pacer said.

“I don’t think the Ashes will either go ahead or go ahead in such a way and I think Jimmy might just look at this and go ‘you know what, if I go to The Oval and bowl well and then I’ve got Old Trafford at the end, my illustrious career couldn’t get any better than to finish by knocking Virat Kohli over from the end I bowl at, which is named after me, and there’s potentially no Ashes in six months time,” he added.

PROLONGING RED-BALL CRICKET CAREER

Anderson, England’s highest Test wicket-taker, retired from the shorter formats of international cricket in 2015 in order to prolong his red-ball career. However, the 39-year-old said that he was tempted by the idea of returning to white-ball cricket with The Hundred but did not go ahead with the idea as he did not want to jeopardize his Test availability, especially ahead of the series against India.

Although Harmison’s prediction might come true, it is unlikely that Anderson would want to hang up his boots. With the Ashes coming, the veteran pacer would presumably much rather have that series be his last, rather than the current one against India. He has been in tremendous form as well, despite his age. Anderson is also one of the few bowlers in world cricket who has consistently dismissed Virat Kohli as well.