Anderson set to mentor England’s quicks after Test exit

LONDON: England great James Anderson will join the team’s backroom staff as a fast-bowling mentor when he retires from Test cricket following next week’s series opener against the West Indies at Lord’s.

The 41-year-old is the first seamer and only third bowler to have taken 700 Test wickets after spinners Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan. Anderson, however, has decided to end his Test career after England made it clear they wanted to move on ahead of the 2025/26 Ashes.

But England managing director Rob Key told reporters on Monday: “After the Lord’s Test, Jimmy will continue in our set-up, and he’ll help a bit more as a mentor.” Key added: “He has got so much to offer English cricket. We don’t want to see that go.

“When we asked him, he was keen. He is going to have a lot of options. English cricket would be very lucky if he chooses to stay in the game.” Anderson is currently playing for Lancashire against Nottinghamshire in the County Championship at Southport, but his first-class future remains uncertain.

“What he does with Lancashire will probably work out after the Lord’s Test,” said Key. England have included thHe usually plays as a specialist batsman for Surrey with Foakes keeping wicket for the reigning county champions. “Sometimes you’re selecting people for what they’re going to be as well, and where you think they can progress to,” said Key.

“It’s very much the start for Jamie Smith. We feel he’s going to be a fantastic international cricketer.” Key, asked how Smith would cope with the demands of keeping wicket for 90 overs a day in a Test match when he is not a regular behind the stumps, said he had consulted several former England wicketkeepers in Chris Read, James Foster and Alec Stewart -- Smith’s boss at Surrey. “Some of the guys have been the best keepers in the country... We use them a lot really and we trust a lot of their opinions,” Key explained.