England's 14-man squad for James Anderson's farewell test series announced

James Anderson will retire after England’s first test against the West Indies at the Lord’s.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has named a 14-man squad for the first two tests against the West Indies, which is the farewell series for veteran pacer James Anderson. ECB has included three uncapped players in this squad while dropping some big names, including Jonny Bairstow and Mark Wood, as they look to revamp their test side.

41-year-old James Anderson will bid goodbye to international cricket after the first test against the West Indies at the Lord’s, starting July 10. He had confirmed his retirement in May.

Anderson made his test debut in 2003 and will bow out with 188 test caps after the first test; only Sachin Tendulkar played more test matches than Anderson. To do as a fast bowler is an incredible achievement for Anderson.

He has exactly 700 test wickets right now, the most for a pacer in test cricket.

Led by Ben Stokes, England have given maiden test call-ups to Nottinghamshire seamer Dillon Pennington and Surrey batter Jamie Smith, while fast bowler Gus Atkinson is the third uncapped player in this squad.

They have dropped Bairstow, Wood, Ben Foakes, Jack Leach, Mark Wood and Ollie Robinson. Shoaib Bashir is the front-line spinner in this squad, while Anderson will lead the pace attack in the first test before Chris Woakes takes on the duty in the next.

James Anderson has given everything to the sport since his Test debut in 2003: Rob Key

The ECB Managing Director for England Men’s Cricket, Rob Key, said, “The first Test of the summer is always a special moment, but it will be extra poignant with it being Jimmy’s (Anderson) last Test before he retires. He has given everything to the sport since his Test debut in 2003. We all would like to wish him well as he walks out at Lord’s for the last time for England.”

England Test squad vs West Indies:

Ben Stokes (capt), James Anderson, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Dillon Pennington, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes

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