'I Might be in Denial...': England Legend Considering Shock Return to T20 Cricket After 10 Years

He may have done playing Tests but James Anderson hasn’t surely officially bid goodbye to cricket itself. In his own words, he might still be in “denial” about his playing career despite his England career coming to an end but Anderson, the most prolific fast bowler in Test history, is considering a shock return to white-ball cricket.

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At 42 years, Anderson is far from being a spring chicken but the wealth of experience he has gathered over the years could still serve him well.

“I might be in a bit of denial because I’m well aware I won’t play for England again but I’ve still not made a decision on my actual cricket career,” he told the PA news agency.

“There’s definitely a bit of intrigue with the shorter formats because I’ve not played any franchise stuff before. Watching The Hundred this year, seeing the ball swing around, it makes me feel like I could do a job there,” he added.

Anderson though last played a professional white-ball competition in 2019 – a List A game between Lancashire and Hampshire. On the other hand, his last T20 was a decade ago – in 2014 between Lancashire and Warwickshire.

With 704 wickets to his name, Anderson retired from Test cricket last month with Rob Key, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) managing director, announcing the legend will be taking up the role of bowling mentor with the national team.

Anderson says he will consider extending his playing career after England summer is done.

“Once this summer is done I can sit down and have a real think if I want to play cricket in some shape or form again next year. I’m quite open at the minute to thoughts of any sort of cricket, I’m still fit enough to play and I’m not shutting myself off to anything,” Anderson said.

“It’s hard to know if there’ll be any interest from people wanting me to play in that sort of thing so we’ll wait and see. I know it’s a while since I played it and my age will get brought up again but I really feel I’ll be good enough to play that form of cricket,” he added.