PA Media: SportEngland v New Zealand: Silverwood era kicks off with solid start
Rory Burns, Joe Denly and Ben Stokes all contributed fifties as England on an attritional opening day of the first Test against New Zealand.
PA Media: SportJames Anderson hopes England ‘keep faith’ as he bids to banish retirement talk
Anderson admitted he struggled to find his groove as he laboured for match figures of one for 97 in last week's victory over Pakistan.
The TelegraphJames Anderson: 'I had a bad game and let frustration get to me, but I have no intention of retiring'
James Anderson has reiterated his desire to play in the next Ashes series, but knows the selectors will take the decision about retirement “out of my hands” if he does not improve on his performance in the first Test against Pakistan. Anderson set the rumour mill running when he looked frustrated, angry and fed-up with his performance during the victory over Pakistan on his home ground, Emirates Old Trafford. At 38, it looked as if age was catching up with Anderson as he took one for 97 in the match. He called a press conference on Monday morning, prompting suggestions he might be about to retire, but confirmed he wants to carry on, although he admitted the constant speculation is getting to him. “It's been a frustrating week for me personally. I've not bowled very well and felt out of rhythm,” he said. “For the first time in probably 10 years I got a little bit emotional on the field, got a bit frustrated, let it get to me a little bit. It reminded me of when I first started playing, when you get frustrated and a little bit angry you try and bowl quicker and quicker and it doesn't help. “It was one bad game and I’m sure I’ll have another bad game in my career. I just don’t want every time I have a bad game for there to be whispers going round that I’m going to pack in. For me it’s about trying to find a way of dealing with that, dealing with the outside noise. I’ve done that really well in my career, but it’s a little bit different now.” Asked if he wants to play in the next Ashes series, he replied: “Yes, absolutely. It’s not like that’s a focus of mine; I want to play as long as I possibly can. If I keep bowling the way I did this week, the opportunity to retire will be taken out of my hands. It will be a selection issue. “I’m still hungry to play the game. I think the frustration for me this week was that, after one bad game... the sort of whispers that go around. I don’t think that’s really fair. But, for me, I’m still hungry. Experiencing a win like that is why we play the game. Seeing all the lads perform. It’s one of those things, everyone has a bad game every now and then. That’s how I look at it. I’ll work hard to try and put things right if I get a chance next week.” Anderson was working on his follow through with head coach Chris Silverwood before play on the final day of the Test. He has taken six wickets in three Tests this summer at an average of 41 and extracted less swing and seam movement, according to ball-tracking data, than at any time in his long Test career.
