JAMES ANDERSON is so keen to play cricket again and extend his England career he has taken to bowling in his living room.
Anderson might be 37 but, once the game emerges from hibernation, he has every intention of continuing for at least two more years.
After just three Tests in the last 13 months — and being injured in two of them — and now the coronavirus crisis, his desire to pull on his whites is close to bursting point.
It proves Anderson’s enthusiasm, determination and love of cricket remains as strong as ever following almost two decades at the top.
England’s all-time top Test wicket-taker with 584 said: “I’ve been walking around the last couple of days going through my action in the living room. It’s sort of ingrained.
“When you don’t do it for a while, you miss it and, subconsciously, my body just wants to bowl.”
After a year of injury frustration, Anderson was ready to start the season with Lancashire.
Now, like every other sportsman, he is confined to training at home.
His exercises include bench-pressing his daughters 15-20 times and a more serious indoor-bike competition against fellow fast bowlers Stuart Broad and Mark Wood, which Broad won narrowly ahead of Anderson.
When he does start playing again, Anderson believes his outlook on cricket will have changed.
He added: “I think something like this puts everything in perspective.
“Cricket has been a huge part of my life but you realise the importance of it, in the grand scheme of things, isn’t that great.
“For me, if and when I do play again, I might have a different outlook.
“I’m going to enjoy it so much. It’s hard to explain.
“There’s more to life than sport, as we’re seeing, with people in the NHS sacrificing so much and sadly people losing their lives.
“So to think I’ve been able to do this for a long time and play sport as a job means that, when I get to play again, I’m going to cherish it and enjoy every single moment.
“I’ve not thought about never playing cricket again. I feel we’ll play again and I’ll play again at some stage.
“But, with all the uncertainty, it would be silly to think not bowling a ball this summer is possible.
“Long-term, I think I’m going to play. I’m still hungry to play.
“I’ve still got ambitions to play for England so I think that’s going to keep me driven at home trying to keep fit.
“It’s quite a scary time for everyone. My family’s health is the first priority and cricket very much secondary to that.
“I’m thinking about keeping my family healthy on the mental side as well.
“My eldest is in Year Six and might not go back to primary school.
“She’s obviously missing her friends and not getting to see out the year is something she’s coming to terms with.”
Anderson bowled just four overs in last summer’s Ashes before straining his calf.
Then he missed the final two Tests in South Africa this year with a broken rib after taking seven wickets in the Cape Town victory. He added: “I had mixed emotions in that week.
“I was delighted with the way I played and, having missed most of the summer, it was nice to get some wickets and win as well. But to be injured again was a big frustration.
“I did pre-season with Lancashire for a couple of months and felt really good. I was ready and raring to go.
“My bowling was as good as it has been, my speeds were good and fitness felt good.
“We mapped out the start of the summer and the games I was playing for Lancashire, all building towards the first Test.
“As and when it happens — whether it’s this summer or next winter — my plan is to get back into that England team and stay fit a little longer.”
