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James Anderson has registered himself and will be in the auction at a base price of 1.25 crores INR.
James Anderson is the highest-wicket -taker in Tests among fast bowlers. (Picture Credit: X/@englandcricket)
England’s now-retired fast-bowling great, James Anderson explained his decision to have listed himself for the upcoming Indian Premier League mega-auction. The pacer aims to participate in the leading franchise cricket league in hopes of improving his knowledge of the game.
The 42-year-old Anderson had last played a T20 game in 2014 and has not participated in the IPL. Now he has registered himself and will be in the auction at a base price of 1.25 crores INR.
Anderson feels that he can still go about and play and feels that he has a lot more to contribute and hopes that he can possibly make an impact in the IPL.
“There is still definitely something in me that thinks like I can still play. I have never done the IPL; I have never experienced it and I think for a number of reasons I feel like I have more to give as a player,” Anderson told BBC Radio 4 Today in a podcast.
By participating in the IPL, he feels that he can learn a lot from the experience of playing T20 internationals, which could come in use during his coaching career. He has been a part of the England setup and the knowledge of playing in the IPL good serve him in good stead.
“I have done a little bit of coaching since I have finished in the summer. I have been around the England team doing a bit of mentoring or whatever you like to call it,” he said.
“I just think opening my eyes to something like that and experiencing it, sort of might help me grow my knowledge of the game and help further down the line,” Anderson added.
Anderson finds himself amongst the greatest bowlers of all time as he finished with 704 wickets to finish as the highest wicket-taker amongst fast-bowlers and the third highest-wicket-taker ever, behind the likes of Shane Warne (708) and Muttiah Muralitharan (800).
It will be interesting to see if any of the IPL sides would be willing to shell out at least 1.25 crores for the services of the veteran and whether he would make it to the starting 11 as well.
(with PTI Inputs)
