He said the ECB was preparing a team for Ashes 2025-26 in Australia, and did not have Anderson in its plans. James Anderson retired from international cricket at the age of 41 on Friday, July 12. In his final Test match against West Indies at the Lord's in London, Anderson picked four wickets across the two innings to end his stellar career on a high. England won the match by an innings and 114 runs. Anderson played 188 Test matches - the second-most after Sachin Tendulkar and picked 704 wickets - the most by any pacer in the history of the game. He did not show any signs of slowing down despite a career spanning over 21 years. Writing in a column for the MailOnline, David Lloyd slammed ECB for moving on from Anderson. "The sad thing about Jimmy Anderson's departure is that he's bowling as well as ever," wrote Lloyd. "Accuracy, pace, stamina - he's shown all those qualities and he's still taking wickets. They say they are moving him on with next year's Ashes in mind. I say, pick your best team. He was forced out because of his age. "In this era of inclusivity, it takes the biscuit that someone has been stopped for that reason. Reader, let me tell you: I know the feeling. Inclusivity, my arse. I can call a cricket match stood on my head, but I don't seem to be getting much work." Mark Wood has replaced James Anderson in the second for the second Test of the 3-match series. Anderson will remain in the England dressing room as a fast-bowling mentor from the second Test onwards. "Some days I wake up and wish I was not retiring," Anderson had said while speaking on Tailenders podcast. "90 per cent of the time I'm happy with it. Not many people in sport get the chance to retire over the age of 40. I'm happy I've made it this far," he had added.