James Anderson vows to take away the ‘nostalgia’ in the event of a recall at Old Trafford

Anderson, who turns 41 at the end of the month, fell out of England’s thrilling three-wicket win in the third Test at Headingley last week after struggling to impress in each of Australia’s two flat field wins at Edgbaston and Lord’s in the first two tests of the series.

He took three wickets at 75.33 in those two matches, but admitted after the first that the Edgbaston pitch had been like “kryptonite” to his swing bowling methods.

Nevertheless, with Ollie Robinson suffering a back spasm during the Headingley test – and England having named an unchanged 14-man squad to Old Trafford in which the only alternate sailor is the relatively untested Josh Tongue, there is a clear case for Anderson’s return . on home soil.

Regardless of his showings in the series to date, Anderson has been a key weapon for Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum since they took over as England captain and coach, taking 48 wickets at 21.22 in 12 appearances since the start of the summer from 2022.

“This is an Ashes series and there is absolutely no chance of nostalgia entering the roster for the next Test,” Anderson wrote in his column in the Telegraph.

“Having Jimmy Anderson bowl at Jimmy Anderson End because it’s a nice story won’t cross the minds of Ben Stokes or Brendon McCullum. They’ll choose the strongest team to compete with Australia that week. I’m absolutely delighted with what they also decide.

“I know I’m not guaranteed to play the next test and I’ll totally understand if they want to stay with the winning team. I don’t control the selection side. I just make sure I’m in a good place and ready to play.”

Anderson has claimed 688 wickets at 26.21 in his 181-match career, including a remarkable 208 at 21.61 since he turned 35, the kind of age most fast bowlers consider retiring. And while even Anderson acknowledges that the end of his career can’t be postponed indefinitely, he’s putting all those thoughts to the back of his mind as the Ashes hang in the balance.

“When you’re at my stage of your career, you never know when your last game will be on any given ground,” he wrote. “This could be my last test at Old Trafford when I play, who knows? I’m not thinking about that.

“All I want to do is try to be involved with this team again and make an impact on the pitch and contribute to an England win that would level the series. I’ll take the nostalgia element out and concentrate on the cricket and have a good time on the pitch. I feel better mentally and physically after the break.”

Despite his overall career figures, Anderson’s record against Australia – 115 wickets at 34.85 – remains one he is keen to improve on, especially considering he was last involved in an Ashes Test win in 2015. the rest of the squad take a break between matches to ensure he is ready to get started when he is called up at Old Trafford.

“Looking back at the first two games of the series, I was too serious and too intense,” Anderson wrote. “When I get hired at Old Trafford, I go out with a smile on my face.

“The series is alive now and it’s been great to be a part of it and I’d love the chance to contribute again. It’s something I’ve been doing for a number of years – show up when the team needs me and put in a performance that can affect a game.”