The Anderson constant

How will England cope without James Anderson? Like filing a tax return, Joe Root doesn't want to even contemplate it until he really has to. He wasn't too far away from putting his fingers in his ears and shouting 'Blah, blah, blah' when he was asked the question at the conclusion of the final Test of the summer. After all, if Root doesn't think about it, maybe it doesn't have to happen?

At some point, of course, England will have to deal with Anderson leaving the field for one last time. Or maybe, given his remarkable capability to improve with age and keep running in Test after Test, instead of Root, it will be England's next captain who will have to deal with it in the years to come. Regardless, some time, some day, England will have to process the fact that James Anderson will not be there to open the bowling anymore. All of us will have to.

Thankfully, that doesn't appear to be on the cards just yet. When asked in the third Test post match press conference whether he might try for 700 Test wickets, Anderson replied, semi seriously, "Why not?" He spoke about conversations he has had with Root about next winter's tour to Australia. He said England's captain wants him there provided he is fit enough and bowling well enough.

"I feel like I've still got stuff to offer this team," Anderson said. "As long as I still feel like that I think I'll keep going."

That will be music to the ears of England supporters. Anderson has been so important to English cricket over the past 17 years. Yes, for the wickets and the victories that wouldn't have been achieved without him, but also for the memories he's given to those who watch and love the game. There have just been so many memories. 10 wickets at Trent Bridge during the 2013 Ashes. Six wickets in 12 overs in Bridgetown in 2015. Nine wickets for 43 runs at Lord's against India in 2018. A five-for in Cape Town earlier this year.

Often it is not the specifics of the game we remember, not that the delivery was a leg-cutter or that the shot went through cover point, but where we were, who we were with, what it meant to us that stands out. There will be father and sons, mothers and daughters, brothers and sisters who have bonded over Anderson's feats, who have had his wickets and his achievements as the backdrop to a large chunk of their lives. "Did you see Jimmy got another five wickets today?" "Yeah, that ball to get rid of Brad Haddin! Wow. Anyway, what's for tea?"

Like MS Dhoni, who retired from international cricket last week, Anderson has been a constant presence in the lives of a generation of cricket followers. That might sound overly dramatic but it is true.

His journey has been well chronicled. From Burnley club cricket to England's squad in no time at all. Immediate success during that 2003 tri-series in Australia and then the World Cup which followed. Five wickets at Lord's on Test debut. But then a spell of struggle and a stress fracture. He took three or four years to learn about his game, himself and what was required. Since then, he hasn't looked back. He has improved, added more skill, worked as hard as any England cricketer ever has.

Since 2008, when he fully established himself in the side with five wickets in Wellington on the tour to New Zealand, any time England have been behind in a Test match, or if they have needed a spark, they have looked to Anderson. England captains from Vaughan to, briefly, Pietersen, to Strauss to Cook to Root have thrown him the ball in search of inspiration. He has been the bowler that opposition batsmen have tried to see off. More often than not, Anderson has triumphed. More often than not, he has held up his end of the bargain.

"To be honest, I'm just delighted I have managed to play for as long as I have and enjoy some success playing a sport I love and doing what I love," he said. "I have worked really hard with my skills over the years. I am fortunate enough that I get to do it at the top level playing for my country. Looking back to that first Test, I never thought I would get anywhere near 600 Test wickets. I'm absolutely over the moon."

The longer Anderson goes on, the more it becomes clear how much he will be missed once he hangs up his boots. Not just missed in cricketing terms, although the loss to England will be massive, but missed because he's part of the furniture, because what the hell are they going to do without him? There was talk a few weeks back of Anderson retiring. When he did a press conference saying he was carrying on, the overwhelming feeling was one of relief. Phew. We get to enjoy him for a few more Tests yet.

"I still love turning up every day at training, putting in the hard yards and being in the dressing room with the lads trying to forge a win for England," he said. "That's all I've really ever bothered about and what I'll keep trying to do. I don't think I've won my last Test matches as an England cricketer yet. We don't know when the next Test matches will be but I'll keep working hard in the gym and keep myself available for selection."

The next time Anderson pulls on an England shirt, be sure to watch. Be sure to take it all in. If we have one more year or two, three more years or four, be sure to appreciate the greatness in front of us. Some day, some time, we are all going to have to contemplate the unthinkable. Some day, England will play a Test match and Anderson will be retired. We can stick our fingers in our ears all we want. Some day, it will be true.

Often in cricket, and in life actually, we don't fully appreciate what we have. Then it is gone and it hits us like a lightning bolt. What we wouldn't give, for instance, to watch one more spell from Warne or one more innings from Lara. Thankfully, that doesn't have to be the case with Anderson. We still have the opportunity to enjoy one of the very best to have ever played the game. We still have the opportunity to watch a few more spells, savour a few more wickets.

The end is closer. But it's not here yet.