Image courtesy of: Zimbio

England pace bowler James Anderson sees no reason why he can’t continue playing international cricket into his 40s.

Anderson is currently involved in a Test series against the West Indies, but later on this year, England will travel to Australia for a highly-anticipated Ashes series.

Many believe that this could be Anderson’s Ashes swansong, but the 35-year-old has other ideas.

“All I will try and do is stay fit and stay in form,” Anderson said. “That is my job for the foreseeable future and while I do the numbers should keep going up. They will go in the right direction and let’s see where I get to.”

Anderson is just three wickets shy of joining the exclusive 500-club. Once he does this, he will become the third seamer and sixth bowler in history to reach the milestone.

However, while the Burnley native admits that he cannot bowl as fast as he used to, he pointed out that if he wants to continue being successful, he has to find different ways of keeping his wicket tally ticking.

“I can’t bowl at 90mph any more, (but) if you look at most bowlers in the history of the game – the two guys (fast bowlers) who got 500 wickets, Glenn McGrath and Courtney Walsh, weren’t bowling at 90 at the end of their careers,” he said. “What you lose in speed you make up in other areas.”

When asked how long he could play for until he calls time on his illustrious career, Anderson conceded that he can see himself playing in the 2021/22 Ashes series, at which point he will be 39.

“I wouldn’t rule it out, no. I’m very fortunate to have the body I have,” he said. “For a fast bowler, not much stress goes through my body. A lot less than a lot of other fast bowlers. It’s just a case of looking after myself.

“If I can keep fit, keep my speeds up, there’s no reason why not. I played here with Glen Chapple when he was 40 or 41 and he was as good as he ever was then. For me, just playing Test cricket, not one-day cricket, there’s no reason why I can’t extend my career a little bit.

“I still enjoy the pressure and the scrutiny, trying to perform well and help us win games of cricket. That’s what keeps me going and when that stops I probably will.”

During England’s disastrous Ashes series in 2013/14, where they were whitewashed 5-0 by Australia, spinner Graeme Swann made headlines when he retired midway through the series.

However, Anderson insisted that should England find themselves in a similar position, he won’t follow in Swann’s footsteps.

“If we are 3-0 down I am not going to do a Swanny and just do one!” Anderson said. “I am not going there and thinking, right, if we don’t win this, I am done.

“My body feels fine – if anything I think you get used to it. I bowled 50-odd overs at Headingley and you should not be able to get out of bed the next day. But actually I got out pretty well. Your body gets used to it.

“When you put your body through so much, you get used to it and know what its limits are. From that aspect it gets easier.”

Meanwhile, Anderson admitted that he is excited about the third Test between England and the West Indies at Lord’s since it will be a must-win game for both sides as the series is tied at 1-1.

England demolished the West Indies by an innings and 209 runs in the first Test at Edgbaston, but the men from the Caribbean bounced back in the second Test at Headingley as they secured a stunning five-wicket win to beat England in a Test match for the first time since 2000.

“It’s very rare that you get to play with the series level and the decider at Lord’s,” he said. “I doubt that it’s ever happened in my career.

“But it is a great opportunity for us as a team to see how we cope with that pressure, especially with the winter ahead.

“We’ve got guys in the team (who) are under pressure looking ahead with what’s to come in the winter, so it will be a really good test for us.”