Jimmy Anderson has no retirement plans: "I want to keep playing as long as I possibly can"

Anderson was some way off his best during the defeat of Pakistan at Old Trafford last week, leading to some speculation that he might step away from the national side after a glittering and lengthy career which has brought him 590 Test wickets

England v Pakistan: 1st Test player ratings

Jimmy Anderson has reiterated his desire to keep fighting for his place in the England Test team, saying suggestions to the contrary are “unfair” after “one bad game”.

Anderson was some way off his best during the defeat of Pakistan at Emirates Old Trafford last week, leading to some speculation that he might step away from the national side after a glittering and lengthy career which has brought him 590 Test wickets.

England’s decision to call Sussex seamer Ollie Robinson into the training bubble at the Ageas Bowl ahead of the second Test added fuel to the fire, but Anderson emphasised on Monday that he has no plan to call time.

The 38-year-old stressed he still wants to “play as long as I can”, though he accepted he will have to put in improved displays to retain his place in the side among fierce competition from the likes of Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood and Robinson.

“The frustration for me has been, after one bad game, the whispers that go around. I don’t think that's really fair,” he said.

“It’s been a frustrating week for me personally just because I’ve not bowled very well, felt out of rhythm and for the first time in probably 10 years I got a little emotional on the field, started getting frustrated, let that get to me a little bit.

“It reminded me of when I started playing, when you get angry you start trying to bowl quicker and quicker and obviously that doesn’t help.

^{Jimmy Anderson was far from his best against Pakistan}

“It’s a case of me trying to figure out if there are any technical issues I can sort out, work hard and hope that I get the nod for the next game, and I can show people I’ve still got what it takes to play Test cricket.”

Anderson’s match figures of 1 for 97 at Old Trafford came with an economy rate considerably above that of his career as a whole, and he accepted that has left his place in jeopardy.

“I’ve never counted my chickens, I've never thought I’m definitely playing the next game,” he said.

“Having the attitude of trying to work hard in practice, keep improving and play well in the actual game itself - that’s what I’ve always tried to do and that doesn’t change this week, or in the next year, or the next three years, or whatever it may be.

“Something I've done really well throughout my career is deal with the pressure of playing; whether that’s the pressure of expectation or the match situation. This week I probably didn’t deal with it very well.

“I need to go away and personally work on that and make sure that if I do play in the next game, the Test after that or in the winter, I am ready to cope with that. It’s about focusing on the game situation for me. The moment you start thinking about the whispers, it can affect you.”

With Ben Stokes missing from the remainder of the Pakistan series, as the allrounder flies to New Zealand to be with his family, England may well restructure their starting XI for the final two matches at the Ageas Bowl.

That could mean the introduction of an extra batsman in the middle order, and potentially one of the English seamers being dropped.

Even if he was to lose his place, Anderson would not consider his future, however.

^{Anderson will turn to Stuart Broad for advice}

“I don’t think it’s the toughest period of my career. I’ve had quite a few tough periods, as you’d expect over a decent length career,” he said.

“It was one bad game and I’m sure I‘m going to have another bad game in my career; I just don’t want there to be, every time I have a bad game, whispers around that I’m going to pack in.”

The second Test is due to begin on Thursday, before which England’s record wicket-taker will work with England head coach Chris Silverwood and his great friend Stuart Broad to establish just what went wrong at Old Trafford.

“It feels like we’ve been each other’s coach at mid-on and mid-off for however long,” he said of Broad.

“We’ve inspired each other throughout our careers together, we’ve pushed each other, supported each other and neither of us would have got the wickets we have without each other.

“I want to keep playing as long as I possibly can. If I keep bowling like I did this week, the opportunity to retire will be taken out of my hands. It will be a selection issue.”