‘It would break my heart if Jimmy Anderson didn’t quit after the Oval Test’ — Steve Harmison delivers emotional plea

Having undeniably cemented his status as one of the best cricket players of all time, England fans adore Jimmy Anderson. But Steve Harmison wants his dear friend to retire sooner rather than later.

From first picking up a bat and showing a natural talent for swing bowling, the sporting icon was always destined for superstardom. He’s featured in England and Wales Cricket Board’s greatest all-time Test XI. And regardless of the prospect of father time, he is still the number one Test bowler in the world as per ICC Men’s Player Rankings.

Steve Harmison thinks it’s the end of the road for Jimmy Anderson

All good things have to come to an end, and Harmison believes the next chapter in Anderson’s incredible story should be his last.

Speaking to Online Cricketing Betting, he said: “As a friend, I’m pleading for Jimmy Anderson to quit after the Oval. It would break my heart if he went on.

“I really hope the Oval is the last of Jimmy. Not for anything other than, Jimmy is a really good friend of mine. He’s an absolute national treasure. It would break my heart if he had to retire off the back of an injury.

“I’m not saying Jimmy Anderson should retire on ability, but as a friend, I’d love to see him retire at the Oval because I think this country needs to send him off with a massive thank you because of what he’s given to this country.” 

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Steve Harmison wants Jimmy Anderson to leave on his own terms

He continued: “I wouldn’t like to see that against the West Indies. I wouldn’t like to see that against Sri Lanka. Even though England haven’t won the Ashes, Australia have retained them; I’d love to see 2-2 at the end of the Oval, a full house, Jimmy getting the send off that he deserves in the biggest competitive battle that he has craved which has been in the squad in 2005, and then leaving cricket in the 2023 Ashes. 

“For me, he deserves to be sent off that way rather than potentially getting an injury and not being able to play again or playing two out of four Test matches next summer and nobody turning up against Sri Lanka and nobody turning up against the West Indies to say goodbye to one of the greatest players, the greatest player that we’ve ever produced.

“It wouldn’t be an ability decision. I’d want him to retire on a personal point of view. I think he deserves to go out in the highest competitive cricket game possible. And that is against Australia in an Ashes Test match.”

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