James Anderson says would’ve considered England captaincy ‘seriously’

James Anderson on Friday revealed that he was not pleased that he was overlooked for the role of England’s Test captain after Alastair Cook vacated the post earlier this year.

Cook stepped down as England captain after leading the side in 59 matches for over four and a half years. Joe Root was appointed as his replacement, with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) almost immediately announcing the decision.

While Anderson realises that his advanced age of 34 and susceptibility to injury would not have made him the best choice — and he probably would have turned down the opportunity — the pacer admitted he would have been pleased if considered for the responsibility.

The veteran of 122 Tests over 13 years and England’s all-time leading wicket-taker said he would have liked to be a part of the shortlist that constituted Root, Ben Stokes and Stuart Broad.

“It would have been nice to have been considered for it [the captaincy]. Whether I would have taken it, I’m not sure. From a personal point of view I would have seriously thought about it,” Anderson said at Old Trafford where he is preparing for the upcoming County Championship season.

“But if I was on the outside looking in, I would have thought: ‘Is this actually where the team needs to go, with a 34-year-old as captain?’ In the grander scheme of things, it makes sense for a younger guy to do it,” he continued.

Pacers Ignored

While Anderson had no concerns with Root’s appointment, he felt the fast bowlers are generally overlooked for Test captaincy roles because of injury problems associated with their discipline.

Shaun Pollock, Courtney Walsh, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis have captained their respective nations to success. However, England has not been captained by a specialist bowler since Bob Willis in the 1980s.

“I don’t know why more fast bowlers aren’t given the opportunity. I think they would do a good job, and are suited to it. Bowlers do tend to get injured, and that might be why Stuart Broad didn’t get asked. There are more injury risks, but I am all for bowlers being captain,” Anderson said

“Most of the fast-bowling captains I have played with or against have been pretty successful — Glen Chapple here at Lancashire won the Championship.”

Anderson will play for Lancashire in the County Championship, in a bid to get match fit after sustaining a shoulder injury during England’s tour of India last year.