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‘No interest in retiring,’ says James Anderson

England fast bowler James Anderson insists that turning 41 on Sunday will not push him into retirement, claiming he “has a lot more to give”.

England’s all-time leading wicket-taker with 690 Test victims, is enduring a rare lean patch in the ongoing Ashes series against Australia.

So far he has taken only five wickets in the four matches he has played with one more innings left in the fifth Test at The Oval to add to his tally.

“As soon as you get into your 30s as a bowler, people are asking how long you’ve got left,” Anderson told the BBC’s Test Match Special after the second day’s play on Friday.

“But in the past three or four years, I’ve bowled as well as I ever have. I feel like I’ve been in so much control, my body has been in a good place, my skills are as good as they ever have been.

“In terms of retirement, I’ve got no interest in going any time soon. I feel like I’ve got a lot more to give.”

James Anderson dismissed Mitchell Marsh on Friday as Australia were bowled out for 295, a lead of just 12 runs in the first innings.

Having missed the win at Headingley which brought England back to 2-1 down in the series, it extended a run that has seen Anderson not play in a Test win against Australia since 2015.

“I don’t feel like I’m bowling badly or losing pace or that I’m on the way out,” said James Anderson. “I still feel I can offer a lot to this team.”

It is pertinent to mention that Australia retained the Ashes after the fourth Test against England ended in a rain-affected draw, with bad weather at Old Trafford washing out Sunday’s final day.

The result ensured Australia, as the holders, kept the Ashes at 2-1 up with one match left in the series — regardless of the result of next week’s fifth Test at The Oval.

Heavy overnight rain left the outfield sodden and meant play was unable to start as scheduled at 11:00 am (1000 GMT) in Manchester.

No sooner had it been announced that play would resume at 1200 GMT, provided there was no further rain, the ground was subjected to a fresh downpour lasting several hours.

The match was officially abandoned by the umpires as a draw at 1624 GMT.

Despite this draw, Australia will still have to avoid defeat at The Oval if they are to secure their first Ashes series win in England since 2001.

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England retain Anderson in unchanged XI for Ashes finale

England have named an unchanged team for the fifth and final Ashes Test at The Oval starting Thursday, with record wicket-taker James Anderson keeping his place in the side.

James Anderson’s 689 Test wickets are the most taken by any fast bowler, with only spinners Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Shane Warne (708) ahead of the veteran seamer.

But in this year’s Ashes, James Anderson, 41 on Sunday, has taken just four wickets in three Tests at a costly average of 76.75 apiece.

Nevertheless, he has kept his place in an attack where both Mark Wood and Chris Woakes have been passed fit.

Australia have already retained the Ashes at 2-1 up with one to play following last week’s rain-marred draw at Old Trafford.

But a win for Ben Stokes’s men in London would deny their arch-rivals a first Ashes series victory in England since 2001.

James Anderson insisted in a recent newspaper column he has no intention of retiring and plans to continue a Test career that already spans 20 years so long as he is wanted by the England set-up.

And England captain Stokes, speaking at a pre-match press conference at The Oval on Wednesday, said Anderson was still part of his plans.

“Jimmy Anderson is the greatest fast bowler to play the game,” he said.

“He’s not had the impact and the wickets he’d have liked to in this series, he’s come under a bit of flak, but he’s a quality performer.”

Stokes, meanwhile also paid tribute to Stuart Broad, Anderson’s longstanding new-ball colleague.

The Nottinghamshire seamer is the leading wicket-taker in the Ashes and is now about to appear in his sixth Test in a row this season, having featured in the off-match against Ireland at Lord’s.

“At 37 years old it’s testament to the work and effort he puts in,” said Stokes.

“It’s amazing. It was always going to be hard for one bowler to play every game this series but he’s been incredible for us. He’s been very good at coming on with the ball and changing the game.”

England team for fifth Ashes Test:

Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Moeen Ali, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jonny Bairstow (wkt), Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.

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England face Anderson call after naming unchanged squad for Ashes finale

England are set to make a decision over veteran paceman James Anderson’s place in the side after naming an unchanged squad for this week’s final Ashes Test against Australia at The Oval.

Rain at the England great’s Old Trafford home ground washed out all of Sunday’s play and condemned the fourth Test to a draw.

That ensured holders Australia, 2-1 ahead with one to play, retained the Ashes and wrecked any chance of a winner-takes-all decider in London.

But an England win would square the series at 2-2 — the same result as when they last staged the Ashes in 2019 — and deny Australia a much longed for first away Ashes campaign triumph in 22 years.

England named an unchanged 14-man squad on Monday, with the spotlight on whether James Anderson will still be in their XI come Thursday’s opening day at The Oval.

Anderson’s 689 Test wickets are the most taken by any fast bowler, with only spinners Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Shane Warne (708) ahead of him in the all-time list.

But in the current series James Anderson, who turns 41 on Sunday, has taken just four wickets in three Tests at a hugely expensive average of 76.75 apiece.

He took just one wicket at Old Trafford after being rested for England’s win in the third Test at Headingley.

But with Ollie Robinson fit following a back spasm and novice international fast bowler Josh Tongue also in the squad, England do have alternative options.

Mark Wood and Chris Woakes, who struggled with stiffness near the end of the fourth Test, have impressed since being recalled into the side, while Stuart Broad is the leading wicket-taker in the whole Ashes.

If Anderson is left out at the Oval, it could mean he has made the last appearance of his celebrated Test career, with England handing out their latest round of central contracts before the end of this year.

England’s batting line-up is set to be unchanged after six of the top seven all made at least fifty in a total of 592 at Old Trafford.

England squad for fifth Ashes Test: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Moeen Ali, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jonny Bairstow (wk), Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue, Dan Lawrence.

READ: Australia retain Ashes after fourth Test washout

Australia retain Ashes after fourth Test washout

Australia have retained the Ashes after the fourth Test against England ended in a rain-affected draw, with bad weather at Old Trafford washing out Sunday’s final day.

The result ensured Australia, as the holders, kept the Ashes at 2-1 up with one match left in the series — regardless of the result of next week’s fifth Test at The Oval.

Heavy overnight rain left the outfield sodden and meant play was unable to start as scheduled at 11:00 am (1000 GMT) in Manchester.

No sooner had it been announced that play would resume at 1200 GMT, provided there was no further rain, the ground was subjected to a fresh downpour lasting several hours.

The match was officially abandoned by the umpires as a draw at 1624 GMT.

Despite this draw, Australia will still have to avoid defeat at The Oval if they are to secure their first Ashes series win in England since 2001.

“The group should be pretty proud. Our preference is to come over here and win the Ashes but it’s nice to retain it, albeit not in the best of circumstances,” Australia captain Pat Cummins said.

England skipper Ben Stokes was understandably downbeat, saying: “It is a tough one to take, playing the cricket we did over the first three days, but it is all part of the journey.

“We knew what we needed to do and that played into our hands. It was another do-or-die game for us and I don’t think we could have done much more — bowling them out and then scoring 590.

“We have got one game left and we want to go out with a win and draw the series, like in 2019.”

Australia finished on 214-5 in their second innings, 61 runs behind England’s first-innings 592, after rain meant only 30 overs’ play was possible on Saturday’s fourth day.

England managed to take just one wicket in that time when part-time off-spinner Joe Root had Marnus Labuschagne caught behind, but not before the Australian had held up the hosts’ victory charge with 111.

Old Trafford is notorious for weather delays — the ground has now had 25 complete days rained off in Test cricket, plus an additional two entire Tests abandoned.

England restricted world Test champions Australia to 317 in their first innings before racing to 592 all out, thanks largely to opener Zak Crawley’s breathtaking 189 and an unbeaten 99 from Jonny Bairstow.

Fast bowler Mark Wood ripped through Australia’s top order on Friday with three wickets.

But Australia kept England at bay on Saturday during a stand of 103 between Labuschagne and Mitchell Marsh (31 not out).

Crawley, the player of the match, added: “We are quite flat. We were in a good position to win this game but the weather cost us.”

Sunday’s result ended England’s bid to become just the second side in Ashes history to win a series from 2-0 down.

The Australia team of 1936/37, inspired by batting great Don Bradman, overturned that deficit to win 3-2.

Australia won the first Test of the current series with a thrilling two-wicket victory at Edgbaston where Stokes controversially declared at 398-8 on the opening day, even though star batsman Root was 118 not out.

The tourists went 2-0 up with a 43-run win at Lord’s, a match where England collapsed from 188-1 to 325 all out in their first innings before Stokes gave his side hope of achieving an improbable run-chase with a stunning 155.

England bounced back to take the third Test at Headingley by three wickets, but the Manchester rain ensured that wasn’t enough to spark an Ashes-winning fightback.

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Wood strikes for England in fourth Ashes Test after Bairstow runs riot

Fast bowler Mark Wood ripped through Australia’s top order following Jonny Bairstow’s thrilling 99 not out as England strengthened their grip on a must-win fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford on Friday.

Australia were 113-4 in their second innings at stumps on the third day, still 162 runs behind England’s huge first-innings 592.

Mark Wood had superb figures of 3-17 from seven overs, a haul that included the 100th Test wicket of an injury-blighted career.

England, at 2-1 down with two to play in, must win in Manchester if they are to stand a chance of regaining the Ashes.

Forecast rain over the weekend could scupper their hopes, but Bairstow told the BBC: “We’ve put ourselves into a position taking four wickets tonight that hopefully, well, we’ve done everything that we could’ve done in the game.

“The weather is the weather. What comes will come and we can control what we have done so far in the game which is score at a rate that puts us in a position that hopefully forces a result,” the 33-year-old Yorkshireman added.

Wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow followed his blistering 81 ball-assault, which included 10 fours and four sixes, by holding a routine edge off Wood as Australia lost Usman Khawaja early in their innings.

David Warner, Australia’s other left-handed opener, survived against nemesis Stuart Broad before uncertainly chopping onto Chris Woakes for 28.

Mark Wood’s 100th Test wicket arrived when Australia star batsman Steve Smith was caught down the legside by Bairstow for just 17.

Durham express quick Wood, 33, again showed the value of sheer speed when Travis Head, on one, was undone by a rising delivery that took the shoulder of the bat before looping to Ben Duckett in the gully.

Marnus Labuschagne was 44 not out at stumps, with Mitchell Marsh unbeaten on one off 27 balls.

England had already enjoyed a remarkable run-spree, with opener Zak Crawley top-scoring with 189 when Bairstow came in at 437-5 on Friday.

Jonny Bairstow, one of the stand-out batsmen during England’s ‘Bazball’ era of aggressive run-scoring, was only on 49 not out when joined by last man James Anderson.

He pulled a six off Mitchell Starc to complete his fifty in style.

Jonny Bairstow also hoisted Australia captain Pat Cummins for two soaring sixes off successive balls, even though by then all the fielders — with the exception of wicketkeeper Alex Carey — were on the boundary, a sure sign of how England had rattled their arch-rivals.

There were more cheers from the crowd when the last-wicket pair ran a bye to Carey, who had controversially stumped Jonny Bairstow during the second Ashes Test at Lord’s when the England batsman thought the ball was dead.

Having turned down the chance to get the two he needed for his hundred by only running a single, Jonny Bairstow finished one shy of what would have been a dazzling century after Anderson was lbw to Cameron Green, in what could be the 40-year-old England great’s last Test on his Lancashire home ground.

“Jimmy and I put on 66 for the last wicket,” said Bairstow. “We took the runs we could and it (being left 99 not out) is just one of those things.”

All of Australia’s three frontline bowlers, conceded more than 100 runs each, with Josh Hazlewood taking 5-126 in his 27 overs.

Hazlewood defended the way Australia bowled at Bairstow and Anderson.

“Bairstow had some incredible shots there at the end. So credit to him,” he said.

England resumed on the third day of the fourth Ashes Test at 384-4, with Harry Brook 14 not out and England captain Ben Stokes unbeaten 24 not out.

Both batsmen went on to make the fifties as Australia twice missed chances to run out Stokes.

Cummins bowled Stokes for 61 but the 30-year-old fast bowler’s figures of 1-129 were the most expensive of his 54-Test career.

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Moeen Ali achieves unique all-round landmark in Tests

England’s all-rounder Moeen Ali on Thursday, amassed a major milestone in Test cricket as he became just the fourth Englishman to 3,000 runs and 200 wickets in the longest format.

Moeen Ali’s 3000th run came on the second day of the ongoing fourth Ashes Test while he had completed his 200 wickets in the format in England’s three-wicket victory over Australia in the third Test.

Coming out to bat number three after England suffered an early blow in the form of Ben Duckett, Moeen Ali scored a gutsy half-century and anchored the innings.

He put on a vital 121-run partnership for the second with England’s first-innings hero Zak Crawley before Mitchell Starc finally got rid of him.

Moeen Ali scored 54 from 82 balls and smashed seven boundaries.

His 54-run knock took him past the 3000 Test runs mark and on to a total of 3,031 runs at an average of 28.06. He has scored 15 half-centuries and five centuries in Tests.

Notably, Moeen Ali became just the fourth English all-rounder to accomplish a double of 3,000 runs and 200 wickets in Tests.

He joined Ian Botham 5,200 runs and 383 wickets in 102 Tests), Andre Flintoff (3,845 runs and 226 wickets in 79 Tests) and Stuart Broad (3,640 runs and 600 wickets in 166 Tests).

In the must-win fourth Ashes Test, England booked Australia on 317 after putting the touring side into bat first.

Resuming at an overnight score of 299/8, Australia could add 13 runs for the remaining two wickets as Chris Woakes and James Anderson ran through their tail.

Woakes led the England bowling attack with a five-for, followed by Stuart Broad‘s 2/68.

In response, Zak Crawley’s super-charged 189 powered England to 384/4 at stumps on Day 2.

The right-handed opener spearheaded England’s run spree with a scintillating knock which featured 21 boundaries and three sixes.

He shared a monumental partnership of 206 runs in just 29 overs with Joe Root, who scored a brilliant 84.

At the close, Harry Brook was unbeaten on 14 with England captain Ben Stokes 24 not out.

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Zak Crawley blasts ton as England seize control of fourth Ashes Test

Zak Crawley’s super-charged 189 fuelled a dramatic England run spree on the second day of the must-win fourth Test at Old Trafford as Australia wilted in the face of an Ashes onslaught.

England were 384-4 at stumps on Thursday in reply to the tourists’ first-innings 317, a lead of 67 runs.

The home team, 2-1 down with two matches to play in the five-game series, must win in Manchester to maintain their hopes of regaining the Ashes.

Zak Crawley and Joe Root, who scored 84, shared a breathtaking partnership of 206 runs in just 29 overs.

That stand came after Crawley and Moeen Ali (54) had put on 121 for the second wicket.

At the close, Harry Brook was 14 not out with England captain Ben Stokes 24 not out.

Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum have continually backed the inconsistent Crawley since joining forces last year. The Kent opener has become a standard-bearer for England’s aggressive ‘Bazball’ style.

“I rode my luck at times but hit some good shots along the way,” Crawley told Sky Sports.

“I do doubt myself at times but I have to say ‘keep being me’. That is the way I play.”

The batter, celebrating his first Ashes century, added: “They (Stokes and McCullum) tell me to go out and have an impact. Sometimes I am going to have streaks of low scores but thankfully today it came off.”

There was little hint of the flood of runs to come as England reached lunch on 61-1 off 16 overs following the early loss of Ben Duckett.

Yet at tea England were 239-2, having smashed 178 runs in just 25 overs during the second session.

Crawley himself became just the sixth England batsman to score a hundred runs in a session of an Ashes Test as he advanced from 26 to 132.

“We had some clear plans to him (Crawley) but he was too good for us on a wicket like that today,” said Australia assistant coach Daniel Vettori.

“That period when he and Root got together, it was almost all-out attack,” the former New Zealand spinner added.

Zak Crawley extended his fourth hundred in 38 Tests past 150 with two superb straight-driven boundaries off successive deliveries from Australia captain Pat Cummins.

But, in sight of a second Test double century, and with Cummins running out of ideas, Crawley chopped on to all-rounder Cameron Green.

It was the end of a remarkable innings in which the 25-year-old Crawley scored at better than a run-a-ball, facing 182 deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three sixes.

England’s 336-3 became 351-4 when Root was bowled for 84 by a Josh Hazlewood ball that kept exceptionally low.

By contrast, Stokes was then hit on the helmet by a Hazlewood delivery that reared off a length.

Australia’s woes were compounded when Starc, who led their attack with 2-74 from 15 overs, left the field after landing heavily on his left shoulder making a diving stop.

Moeen, in red-ball retirement until the start of this series, earlier became just the fourth England player to complete the Test ‘double’ of 3,000 runs and 200 wickets.

He was caught for 54 by a diving Usman Khawaja from a fierce pull off Starc.

Travis Head’s part-time off-breaks yielded an expensive 0-48 in six overs. Australia had dropped Todd Murphy — the first time in 11 years they had no specialist spinner in a Test side.

In the morning, Australia were bowled out after resuming on 299-8, with none of their batsmen making more than the 51 achieved by both Marnus Labuschagne and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh.

Chris Woakes wrapped up the innings to finish with 5-62 — his first five-wicket Ashes haul.

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Stuart Broad becomes second pacer to take 600 Test wickets

MANCHESTER: Stuart Broad on Wednesday became only the second pacer to amass 600 Test wickets during the fourth Ashes Test against Australia on Wednesday.

Right-arm pacer Broad achieved the milestone when he removed Australia’s Travis Head in the 50th over of Australia’s first innings.

He started the fourth Ashes Test with 598 Test wickets to his name but soon moved to 599 when he removed Usman Khawaja lbw before getting Head caught by Joe Root at the boundary.

“Never in my dreams did I think this would be a thing,” said Broad.

“Michael Vaughan was the skipper that gave me my first cap and my ultimate feeling there in Sri Lanka was never that this was the end game but instead that I wanted to win series and create memories.

“Some players feel like they have achieved what they wanted to after getting a Test cap and I’ve been fortunate enough to create memories. Never did I think I would be up there with the greats of the game.”

Notably, Stuart Broad is only the second pacer to take 600 wickets in Test cricket. His countrymate James Anderson was the first quick to achieve this feat.

Broad is now fifth on the list of highest wicket-taker while Anderson sits well at third.

Sri Lanka’s legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan tops the list with 800 wickets, followed by Shane Warne (708), James Anderson (688) and Anil India’s Anil Kumble (619).

Stuart Broad, 37, is the highest wicket-taker in the ongoing Ashes series with 18 wickets and has performed consistently well for England.

Broad’s 600 wickets have come at an average of 27.57 and consist of 20 five-wicket and three 10-wicket hauls. He has the most number of wickets against Australia (149) in 39 matches.

Australia are currently leading the Ashes 2-1, having won the first two Tests before England made a comeback at Headingley to keep the series alive.

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David Warner retained as Australia unveil Playing XI for fourth Ashes Test

MANCHESTER: Out-of-form opener David Warner managed to retain his spot in Australia’s Playing XI, which did not feature a spinner, for the fourth Ashes Test against England.

David Warner, whose poor record against England pacer Stuart Broad continued in the ongoing Ashes, led by Australia 2-1, managed to retain his place in the team’s lineup.

Warner could score a mere five runs and fell twice against Broad in England’s three-wicket loss in the third Ashes Test.

Furthermore, Stuart Broad has had Warner dismissed 17 times in Tests and, if he does another double over Warner in the fourth Ashes Test, he will equal the record for most dismissals by a bowler against a single batsman at this level, held by Australia great Glenn McGrath, who claimed the wicket of former England captain Mike Atherton 19 times.

Despite the opener’s poor form, Australia captain Pat Cummins confirmed Tuesday that Warner would continue to open alongside Usman Khawaja as his men aim to win the Ashes series in England for the first time since 2001.

Cummins backed his decision by asserting Warner’s role in three fifty-plus partnerships for Australia was crucial for the Ashes holders while expressing his confidence that a big score from him is “just around the corner”.

“Davey didn’t have his best game last week at Headingley but prior to that, I think he’s looked really good –- he’s had three fifty-run partnerships which can be rare over here in England,” Cummins told reporters.

“We back Davey, absolutely. We know how tough it can be to open over here. He’s doing all the right things, he’s shown some great signs and I’m sure a big score is just around the corner,” he added.

Meanwhile, young spinner Todd Murphy, who replaced injured Nathan Lyon in the third Ashes Test, was dropped from the side.

Murphy’s exclusion meant Australia would go into a Test without the services of a frontline spinner for the first time in 11 years.

Cummins further shared that Josh Hazlewood would replace Scott Boland while all-rounder Cameron Green will replace Murphy.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has already unveiled their Playing XI for the must-win fourth Ashes Test, making just one change as their all-time leading wicket-taker James Anderson returned to the hosts’ lineup.

PLAYING XIs

Australia: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Josh Hazlewood.

England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Moeen Ali, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jonny Bairstow, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.

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James Anderson returns to England’s Playing XI for fourth Ashes Test

LONDON: Veteran pacer James Anderson has been recalled to England’s Playing XI for the fourth Ashes Test against Australia.

Experienced pacer James Anderson was added back to England’s Playing XI and replaced Ollie Robinson, who struggled with back spasms in the third Ashes Test at Headingley.

James Anderson, who could pick three wickets in the first two Ashes Tests at 75.33, was short of his best after returning from a groin injury, sustained while playing for Lancashire in the County Championship.

Another key change to England’s lineup was a shuffle to their batting order with Moeen Ali to bat at No. 3.

The spin all-rounder, who reversed his Test retirement for the Ashes, batted at No. 7 in the first innings of the third Test before being promoted to No.3 in the second inning.

The change in Ali’s batting position, enables Harry Brook to bat at his favour spot of No.5.

Although Ali could only make five in his new role but Brook’s 75 in his favoured spot vindicated the move.

Besides Ali’s promotion, England retained the same batting order with Ben Stokes at No.6 with wicketkeeper batter Jonny Bairstow to follow.

“We thought that him coming in at No. 3, he was able to impact the game more than he would be at No. 7,” stated Stokes.

“I just love the fact that Mo is willing to put himself in those situations; that he wants to get out there and help the team in a positive way… Mo going to Baz and saying, ‘I want the opportunity’ is everything that we’re about as a team.”

Ben Stokes-led England are eyeing a miraculous comeback in the Ashes remainder and will have to imitate an 86-year-old record of Don Bradman’s Australian side, which shrugged off the 2-0 deficit to win an Ashes series.

England Playing XI for fourth Ashes Test: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Moeen Ali, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jonny Bairstow, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.

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