James Anyon has retired after a 13-year career © Getty Images
James Anyon, the Sussex fast bowler, has retired from first-class cricket due to persistent injury problems. Anyon missed all of 2015 and much of the 2014 season and has agreed not to have his contract renewed.
Anyon, 32, took 199 first-class wickets for Sussex after joining from Warwickshire in 2010. With an increasingly muscular frame, he topped 50 wickets in 2011 and 2013, forming a key part of the attack in red-ball cricket. He now hopes to go into coaching.
“It’s been a frustrating 18 months having failed to recover from a knee injury,” Anyon said. “On the advice of the club’s medical staff, I have decided not to pursue my first-class cricketing career.
“I have had a fantastic time at the club since I joined in 2010 and I would like to thank everyone who has made me and my family so welcome here at Hove. I’m very fortunate to have played my best cricket at Sussex, and I’m very proud that I got to represent the county as often as I did.
“I’d like to make a special thank you to the medical staff and the PCA for all their help over the past twelve months, and I wish the club success going forward, as we have a lot of good people who are working hard to make the club successful both on and off the pitch.
“Over the winter, I’ve enjoyed coaching some of the promising young players from the Sussex Age Group Squads and I hope to be able to continue to contribute to the club in the future.”
Anyon made his first-class debut for Loughborough UCCE in 2003 and spent several years at Warwickshire, for whom he took 105 first-class wickets. He was rarely used in white-ball cricket at Sussex, but averaged 30.55 in List A cricket and 19.56 in T20.
Sussex’s head coach, Mark, Davis said: “Firstly, a big thank you to Jimmy for the outstanding service he has given to Sussex over the last six years. Jimmy was not only a top class cricketer, who at times could be super quick with the ball in hand, but was a great man to be around and an integral part of the dressing room.
“A big strong man who could bowl all day and get anybody out, he kept running in and would never shy away from hard work when conditions became tough. His batting was solid, with a good technique and consistent method, playing a number of very valuable innings when the team needed him most.
“With a strong work ethic Jimmy, will be successful at whatever he decides to do in the future. We wish Jimmy, Anna and their impending arrival all the best for the future.”
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo