James Anderson can play in England and be bowling coach for overseas tour: Australia’s Shane Warne

With England’s pace bowler James Anderson nearing another personal landmark to be the first fast bowler to reach 600 Test wickets in the final day of the 3^rd Test between England and Pakistan in Southampton, cricket fans the world over are talking about how much further James Anderson can go on.

James Anderson is one wicket shy of the milestone, but has to hope that the rain clouds that are predicted to descend on The Ageas Bowl in Southampton on Day 5 of the Test match stay away.

Former Australian spin legend Shane Warne, who has been one of the only three men to go past that milestone (Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan and India’s Anil Kumble are the other two), spoke about the prospects of prolonging Anderson’s career.

‘Anderson is unplayable in English conditions’

“Watching Jimmy [James Anderson], he’s a class act. I’m interested to see how things pan out now he’s 38,” Shane Warne told Sky Sports.

Labelling James Anderson as “unplayable” in English conditions, Shane Warne suggested, “You want Jimmy to play as long as he possibly can, so is there a way he could be bowling coach away from home? Then, in England, you say ‘we want you to play for another three or four years.

“If you’re picking your side here [in England], Anderson is your first pencilled in. Is he your first pencilled in overseas? I’m not sure.”

Shane Warne has suggested James Anderson could benefit from a role as England’s bowling coach on overseas tours to help prolong his career on home soil.

“How do you prolong his career? Is it to not play away and only in England? Or is it he’s so good, you want him for every Test you play anywhere.

“I’m not sure what the right thing is to do. Jimmy is probably the only one that can answer that,” Warne said.

Speaking on the topic of retirement, Warne, who retired from Test cricket in 2007 at the age of 37 said, “That’s the best thing – to go out on top, when people think you can still play for longer. Because then they miss what you brought to the table, miss watching you play.

“If you play too long, people start saying, ‘he should retire, he’s not at his best’.”