James Anderson, who recently turned 38, is coming off one of his most frustrating Test performances in a decade, and has a slew of young and hungry hopefuls biting at his heels for a place in the England team.

So, is this the end for the country’s all-time leading wicket-taker?

“No, it’s not,” a bullish Anderson said on Monday.

“I want to play as long as I possibly can. But if I keep bowling the way I did, the opportunity to retire will be taken out of my hands.”

Given his age, speculation on upcoming retirement is something that Anderson will have to get used to.

He knew there would be “whispers” about his future at the first sign of any slowdown or regression, especially since England’s fast bowling department is stocked with more talent than perhaps ever.