Jimmy Anderson ready to play for England in his 40s: "I genuinely don’t know if I've peaked as a bowler"

Anderson, 37, is fit and available for selection for the two-Test tour of Sri Lanka in March after a difficult six months, during which he has had to deal with two separate injuries

• Latest England cricket news

Jimmy Anderson thinks his best may still be yet to come as an England bowler.

Anderson, 37, is fit and available for selection for the two-Test tour of Sri Lanka in March after a difficult six months, during which he has had to deal with two separate injuries.

England’s record wicket-taker made his international debut in 2002 but he still insists he is improving - and he sees no reason why he cannot continue representing his country in his 40s.

“I’ve been really lucky with injuries throughout my career. I probably had more in my 20s than I’ve had in my 30s,” Anderson told Sky Sports.

“I feel like my game has got better since I turned 30. There’s always going to be that element of ‘oh, he’s 37’ because there’s that stigma for sportsmen getting to a certain age.

^{Jimmy Anderson is fit after calf and rib injuries}

“I genuinely don’t know if I’ve peaked yet as a bowler. I think I’m getting better with the ball in my hand.”

Anderson recently turned to veganism in an effort to prolong his career at the elite level but he was forced out of the Ashes with a calf problem and then suffered a rib injury in South Africa.

Sri Lanka is not the ideal destination for a returning seamer - spin will play the leading role in the games at Galle and Colombo - but Anderson is keen to make his comeback and add to his haul of 584 Test wickets.

“I’m working hard in practice to get the best out of myself, I’m still learning all the time as well, I’m still working hard in the gym,” he said. “Why does 37 have to be towards the end?

“I’ve seen bowlers go into their 40s. It’s not impossible. The mental challenge for me is I still think like a youngster; I don’t want to be taking the mick and going on way too long but when I still feel fit I want to carry on.”

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER

Subscribe to The Cricketer for exclusive content every day: The inside track on England's Test tour with George Dobell in Pakistan, award-winning analysis, breaking news and interviews and the only place for in-depth county coverage all year round. Plus: An ad-free app experience at your fingertips. Subscribe to thecricketer.com today for just £1.