London: England’s new ball combination of James Anderson and Stuart Broad has its eyes on the 2021-22 Ashes series in Australia before it considers retirement, the duo said.
Anderson, England’s highest wickettaker in Test matches, will be 38 in July. Broad, second in that list and four years younger, does not expect his career to last as long as that of his bowling partner. ‘I don’t think I could go until your age,’ Broad told Anderson during an Instagram Live chat.
‘Your action is so smooth, it looks a lot calmer on your body whereas mine is a little more forceful. But I am loving the environment at the minute. I love playing for England. I still have huge motivation to keep playing and I just assess that year by year. And we’ve got that carrot dangling over us of Australia in Australia which looks like an achievable one to grab.’
Anderson felt if he could stay fit and perform at the same level, there is no reason why he could not join England’s bid to reclaim the Ashes.
‘The big thing is standards. If your standards feel like they’re dropping, then you might consider finishing,’ said Anderson. ‘But as long as my standards stay high, my fitness levels stay good, my skills stay where I want them to be and my speed stays good, which it has been, I will keep playing.’
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Friday announced no professional cricket would be played in England and Wales until at least July 1 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
ECB had previously announced no cricket would be played until May 28 but that date has now been extended in view of the prevailing situation.
An ECB Board meeting on Thursday approved a number of measures that would significantly restructure the English season if some cricket is played this summer.