Succession of James Anderson: Five Potential Candidates
By Jonathan Healy
Following the announcement of James Anderson’s retirement after England’s upcoming ICC World Test Championship match against the West Indies at Lord’s, the hunt for his successor has begun.
End of an era: James Anderson confirms retirement from Test cricket
Replacing a fast bowler with 700 Test wickets is no easy task. However, England has several promising options to consider as potential successors to Anderson.
Here are five potential candidates:
1. Jofra Archer
The Barbados-born fast bowler is a strong contender, provided he returns to Test cricket. However, his fitness remains a concern.
Archer has not played an international match for England in over a year. His last Test appearance was in February 2021 against India in Ahmedabad.
Despite having played only 13 Tests for England, Archer has demonstrated his prowess with both the red and white ball.
If Archer makes a successful comeback during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup next month, he could be given the opportunity to replace Anderson in England’s upcoming Test summer.
2. Ollie Robinson
Despite being a late bloomer in Test cricket, 30-year-old Robinson could still have a lot to offer England if he regains his early career consistency.
Robinson made a splash in 2021 with two five-wicket hauls against India at home and showed promise during his first trip to Australia, taking 11 wickets from four Ashes Tests.
Although Robinson’s place in England’s Test team has fluctuated, he could be a reliable option on home soil against the West Indies and Sri Lanka this summer.
3. Gus Atkinson
Atkinson, 26, is yet to make his Test debut but is highly regarded within England’s setup. His Test cap seems imminent.
Atkinson was part of England’s squad for last year’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India. He showed promise, taking four wickets in three appearances against South Africa, Netherlands, and Pakistan.
Atkinson took 20 wickets in five matches for Surrey in last year’s domestic County Championship and has started this year’s campaign with nine wickets from two games at The Oval.
Expect Atkinson to be given a chance to become England’s new pace spearhead in the coming months.
Atkinson (left) alongside James Anderson at England training earlier this year // Getty Images
4. Josh Tongue
Despite battling injury, Tongue is another potential candidate. Coach Brendon McCullum is a big fan of the right-armer and is likely to give him another chance once he regains full fitness.
Tongue made an immediate impact with a five-wicket haul on debut against Ireland at Lord’s last year. He also took five wickets over two innings against Australia during the second Ashes Test at the same venue.
The 26-year-old hasn’t played any cricket since August last year due to a pectoral injury. However, he is expected to be given more opportunities once he recovers.
Tongue celebrates the wicket of David Warner at Lord’s // Getty Images
5. Matthew Potts
Potts has had a slow start to this year’s County Championship with Durham. However, his good performances with the England Lions in India earlier this year keep him in contention to replace Anderson.
Potts has made only six Test appearances so far. His best performance was on debut against New Zealand at Lord’s, where he took the key wicket of Kiwi veteran Kane Williamson, finishing with impressive figures of 4/13 in a five-wicket victory.
Potts is known for his ability to get good bounce and movement with the new ball. He is likely to get another opportunity to impress this summer in Tests against West Indies and Sri Lanka.
Potts appeals to the umpire for a wicket against New Zealand // Getty Images