NEW DELHI:
England cricket
great
James Anderson
will retire from the longest format after the first Test against West Indies at Lord's in July, the fast bowler said on Saturday.
Anderson, who turns 42 in July, is the most successful pace bowler in Test history with 700 wickets from an England record 197 matches.
Anderson is only behind Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Australia's Shane Warne (708) on the all-time wicket-takers list.
"It's been an incredible 20 years representing my country, playing the game I've loved since I was a kid. I'm going to miss walking out for England so much," Anderson said in a statement.
"But I know the time is right to step aside and let others realise their dreams just like I got to, because there is no greater feeling."
England's first Test against West Indies takes place from July 10-14.
Anderson, who made his Test debut in 2003, is second only on the all-time list of Test appearances behind batting great
Sachin Tendulkar
, who played 200 times in the longest format for India.
Swing specialist Anderson also featured in 194 one-day internationals and 19 Twenty20s before his international white-ball career ended in 2015 -- the same year he overtook Ian Botham's 383 dismissals to become England's record Test wicket-taker.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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