"I'm due to go to Pakistan and New Zealand" - James Anderson confirms continuing as bowling coach for England's winter tours
Retired England great James Anderson has confirmed he will continue as the team's bowling coach for the winter Test tours of Pakistan and New Zealand. However, the 42-year-old, who claims to be still learning his role, admitted that he is unsure of his future following that.
Anderson played his 188th and final Test at Lord's against the West Indies and settled into the role of a bowling coach. The right-arm seamer has overseen the debut of Gus Atkinson, who has already taken two fifers and has become a genuine wicket-taking option.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Anderson claimed:
"At the minute, I'm due to go to Pakistan and New Zealand in the winter. Then nothing concrete after that. I'm very new to this, I'm still learning as we go. It's partly me trying to figure out if this is where I want to go with the next stage of my career and also for them to figure out if I'm any good at it."
England's three-game red-ball series against Pakistan begins on October 7, although the venue for the same is yet to be finalised. Then, their three-match Test series in New Zealand commences on November 28.
"He has really taken to coaching" - Robert Key on James Anderson
England men's cricket team's managing director Robert Key observed how great it was to see Anderson mentor Josh Hull ahead of the latter's debut at The Oval against Sri Lanka.
Key stated that they don't want to lose someone with that vast an experience and told BBC Test Match Special:
"There was a great moment at Lord's where you saw Josh Hull bowling in the middle and Jimmy standing at the top of his mark. You think 'how good this is' - all of that knowledge, you don't want to lose that. He is able to pass it on. Jimmy is not always the most outgoing, but he has really taken to coaching.
"It would be great to have Jimmy in Pakistan, the same in New Zealand and who knows going forward. Jimmy has a few itches to scratch along the way but it is great to have him involved with us."
England have already claimed the series 2-0 against Sri Lanka.