MELBOURNE, (Reuters) – England paceman James Anderson has no intention of following good friend Graeme Swann into retirement and said there were other “big characters” in the dressing room to compensate for the loss of the banter-loving spinner.
“I’d like to carry on playing for a bit, yeah,” the 31-year-old paceman told reporters after capturing 3-50 to help put Australia on the ropes at 164-9 after day two of the fourth Ashes test.
“Just because Graeme (Swann’s) gone I have other friends in the team. I am really enjoying being part of this team. It’s been a disappointing tour and I know we have a lot more to show people in our dressing room and I want to be part of it.”
Off-spinner Swann, 34, announced his shock retirement from international and first-class cricket midway through the Ashes series days after England had surrendered the coveted urn.
“(Swann) was a big character in our dressing room, but we have other big characters there as well.
“As harsh as it sounds, he’s been a good friend, but we’ve got to move on and we want to get something out of this test match and the next test match.”
