James Anderson starts his 16th summer of county cricket when Lancashire take on Nottinghamshire on Sunday, but has vowed to emulate footballer Ryan Giggs by maintaining his best form through the twilight of his career.
England’s highest Test wicket-taker is keen to prove that his recent injury niggles – a calf problem disrupted his tour of South Africa after a side strain ended his Ashes series early – are in the past.
And the 33-year-old seamer sees Manchester United legend Giggs as the inspiration for athletes entering their mid thirties.
Anderson told the Daily Telegraph: “We are fitter now than ever, so why not?
“Look at guys who have played sport for a long time like Ryan Giggs. He was comfortable at 40 and did not look out of place when he retired.
“Where I am at the minute is I feel as fit as I have ever been. I feel I can still get it down the other end.
“I guess it is an extra incentive to keep going, to prove people wrong. You spend all your career trying to prove people wrong. It is the same now.
“In the back of my mind I think I can get 500 Test wickets and what has helped me during the last three or four years has been thinking about staying as fit as possible so I get on the field.
“Then I can contribute to us winning games. If I do that and stay in the team it means I will get wickets. I would like to play the 2019 Ashes. I will be 37 then.”
As for his plans after retirement, Anderson was adamant he wanted to give something back to the sport.
He said: “I want to stay in cricket. The game has been amazing to me. So I want to stay but whether that is coaching full-time I am not sure. It is a full-time job on the road travelling away from your family if you do it at international level.
“Mentoring sounds more feasible. Dipping in and out trying to pass things on. I worked for Sky during the World Twenty20. That was a great opportunity to try it. I have a good analytical brain so if I can get it across in the right way that could be a possibility as well.”
Source: ECB