Jimmy Anderson talks about his last test match for England
Lord's Cricket Ground, London, UK
Lord's Cricket Ground, London, UK
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00:00Hi Jimmy, how are you feeling? How are the emotions as you approach this, your final test?
00:08I don't know yet. I feel pretty normal going into this last couple of days of training.
00:17I'm trying not to think too much about the game itself yet, or certainly how I'd feel about it.
00:23I'm trying to be as focused as I can. The big thing for me this week is wanting to play well, bowl well and get a win.
00:35So that's what I'm trying to focus on really. I'm sure that the emotions during the week will change,
00:41but right now that's what I'm trying to focus on to stop myself crying.
00:47Is this something you've had a bit of time for?
00:53Yes, I think it's been a strange couple of months, but I feel pretty happy with where things are now and pretty excited for the week as well.
01:12I think having quite a few friends and family come down for the week is good.
01:18I've had a lot of people who've stopped me in the street or met out and about saying that they're coming to the game,
01:24so I'm just excited for the week.
01:28You took seven wickets last week for Lancashire. Are you sure you're not bowing out too soon?
01:34It's difficult to say. I've not really got a choice.
01:38No, I think it was important for me that I try and put in some good performances to finish with.
01:46I love being out on the field with Lancashire last week. I've always loved playing for Lancashire.
01:51I've not played a huge amount for them over the last 20 years because of England duties,
01:56but every time I've had a chance to go back to play for them, I've tried to give it my all.
02:00That's exactly what I did last week. Unfortunately, I couldn't get the win because of the north-west weather.
02:07I can't remember the question now, but I feel happy with where I'm at.
02:16Do you feel you could go on to another Ashes tour?
02:23It's always difficult to answer that sort of question. You never know what's going to happen.
02:30It's 18 months away, that Ashes, so it's a long time.
02:35Throughout my whole career, I've never really focused on too far ahead.
02:39I've always tried to take it series by series and focus on those little goals as my career has gone on.
02:47It's really impossible to say. I probably thought before the last away Ashes that I wouldn't make that Ashes
02:5318 months before that because of the way the game is, the age I was getting to.
03:01I guess I can completely understand the decision, the way the team want to go, the way the management want to go.
03:11As I've said, the last couple of months I've sort of made peace with that.
03:16I'm excited to see what the future holds.
03:21What makes you most proud?
03:47I think the fact that I'll be playing my 188th test just short of 42 years old.
03:54I think that probably makes me the most proud. The fact that I've been able to play this long.
04:00The fact that I've committed to playing for this long and tried to just push myself to being the best I possibly can be.
04:13That's all I've ever done and I've still done in the last few weeks.
04:18Even though I know I've only got one game left, I've still tried to train as hard as I ever have to get myself in a position where I can bowl well for the team.
04:30I think the fact that I've played that for a long period of time and been able to contribute to a lot of test victories.
04:40I think that's probably something that when I am done, when I do get the time in the future to sit back and look back on my career, that's what I'll be most proud about.
04:49Is there any part of you right now that wants to stop?
04:57That's a tough question. Coming off the back of seven for last week, obviously I feel like I'm still bowling as well as I ever have.
05:08I knew it had to end at some point, whether it's now or a year or two years.
05:18The fact that it's now is just something that I've got to deal with and accept.
05:24As I said, I'm actually really excited about what I can contribute to this team, certainly for the rest of this summer and who knows maybe further than that.
05:35I think when anybody comes to the end of a career, it's a blessing to look back and think, well, I've got no regrets.
05:43I really hope that's the situation you're in now, James. Are you feeling that way?
05:49I mean, I can't complain.
05:55Do you want me to answer that?
05:56There weren't any mobile phones in 2003, were there?
06:05What was the question again?
06:06Do it again.
06:07No, no, it's alright. I think I can remember.
06:08No, I don't have any regrets. I've played hundreds of games for England, both White Ball and Red Ball.
06:16I've played longer than a lot of people ever get the opportunity to do.
06:21I've played with a lot of people that are much more talented than me that didn't get the opportunity to go on because of injury or whatever situation.
06:28So I feel blessed that I've been able to play for as long as I have, to take the amount of wickets I have.
06:36I'm going to sit back in the next few years and be extremely proud of what I've achieved.
06:43And yeah, there's definitely nothing that I'll regret.
06:48We'll go Rory PA, just behind me.
06:52Jamie, I don't know if you saw any of Sir Andy Murray's bidding farewell to Wimbledon or what have you.
06:59That was a lot of chat about his role in Britain's greatest sportsman or greatest athlete.
07:05Is that something, as a pretty humble guy, is that a conversation you're happy that your name gets tossed around occasionally with your achievements?
07:13I don't know, really. I don't pay too much attention to that sort of thing.
07:25I think those sorts of things are like opinions and great to have conversations in the pub about.
07:35But I don't really focus too much on that.
07:40I just, as I've said, I feel really proud that I've been able to play this long and get to go out playing as well as I have
07:50and hopefully put in a good performance this week to sort of cap it all off.
07:55Has Brodie been in touch just yet with his final words of encouragement?
08:04Yeah, well, it's a lot to live up to that.
08:08I don't think I'll be doing anything like Brodie did.
08:13I've hit five sixes, I think, in my international career.
08:15So in 188 games, that's not looking positive for hitting a six this week.
08:23But I'd love to just be able to contribute somehow this week, whether it's one wicket or I don't know, whatever it is.
08:32I'd just love to make a small contribution and win the game.
08:36That's the reason I've played cricket for so long, is to experience those moments of winning series, winning games,
08:45in the dressing room after, sharing a beer with the other guys, knowing that everyone's worked really hard to achieve that goal.
08:55And that's, yeah, I'd love to be able to sit down at the end of the Test match with a beer with all the lads having won the game.
09:01Have you made a decision yet about whether this match is your final game of First Class cricket or are you intending to play on with Lancashire for the Championship?
09:16Yeah, I've not decided yet.
09:20I think the likelihood is that it's my last game of First Class cricket this season.
09:25But we'll have to see what happens, what I decide.
09:33Maybe in a few months' time, I'll chat to the people at Lanx and see what we do going forward.
09:40But, you know, I think it's a difficult one to weigh up because my emotions are a bit all over the place at the moment.
09:48But I want to make that decision thinking clearly.
09:52And if I feel like I can still contribute to Lancashire or they need me, then I'm sure that's a conversation we'll have in the next few months.
10:02One question here, then we'll finish with Stefan.
10:05Hey, Jimmy, this is Viral Ghazi from Pro Sports. First of all, congratulations on a wonderful career.
10:09Thank you.
10:10You currently stand on 700 Test wickets on the dot.
10:13The late great Shane Warne has 708.
10:16Your retirement is similar to Murli's in a way.
10:19The landmark is right up ahead with you just having two innings to reach that landmark.
10:24So are you looking forward to take nine wickets in this match and get that record?
10:30Well, obviously, I'd love to take nine wickets, but easier said than done.
10:35As I've said, I'd love to contribute in some way.
10:38I've never really been bothered about personal milestones.
10:42Obviously, they're lovely when they do come along.
10:45And when you play for a long period of time, they do seem to come along.
10:50But I'm more than happy with the amount of wickets I've taken.
10:53I just want to, I'd love to go out on a positive note, taking one or two wickets at crucial times and helping us win the game.
11:01You spoke of contributing.
11:03I have heard that you're going to continue with the boys and the series in a mentorship role.
11:07What do you have to say about that?
11:09Is coaching something that you've thought about?
11:12Yeah, obviously coaching is something I've thought about.
11:14I feel like my role in the team for the last few years has been to mentor,
11:19if you will, the other guys coming in, the younger guys coming in, trying to help them settle into the team,
11:24trying to make them feel comfortable and help them perform as well as they can.
11:31I think I've got a lot to offer in terms of my experiences in Test cricket.
11:38So, yeah, I'm looking forward to doing that for the rest of the summer.
11:41We've got a really good group of bowlers, some exciting young bowlers who've not played much Test cricket.
11:47So it'd be great if I can help in a small way.
11:51Last one from Stefan, please.
11:54This being your last Test was a decision taken out of your hands.
11:58Before you had that conversation with Ben and Brendan and Rocky,
12:02did you have any thoughts as to how and when your career would come to an end?
12:07And how much of a surprise was it when you did have that chat with them?
12:11I hadn't really thought about it just because, as I said,
12:16I felt as fit as I ever have been in India.
12:24So I thought that the summer would be achievable, playing this summer.
12:30And obviously, seeing bowlers, you don't play every Test anyway.
12:34We get rested and stuff like that.
12:36So I thought that was achievable.
12:37And then think about stuff after that.
12:39That's the way I've always sort of approached it.
12:44I wouldn't say it was a surprise because when the three big dogs invite you to a hotel in Manchester for a chat,
12:52I didn't think it was just the normal appraisal.
12:55So I had a suspicion that that was going to be the case.
13:00I think they were surprised at how calm I was when I reacted.
13:03I think I was probably surprised at my reaction.
13:06I wasn't overly emotional about it or angry about it or anything.
13:13I sort of saw their point of view,
13:15appreciated them taking the time out to lay out for me the reasoning and stuff like that.
13:22And then since then, I've just sort of come to terms with it and made peace with that sort of decision.
13:29And, yeah, just looking forward to one more game and then see what's ahead.
13:36Thanks, Jimmy.
13:37Thanks.