Last week, Anderson announced that the first Test against West Indies at Lord's, starting on July 10, will be his final red-ball game for the country. The 41-year-old is the highest wicket-taker in Test cricket as a pacer with 700 scalps in 187 matches.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Key, a former England batter, was part of the discussion panel along with head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes that led to the pacer's retirement.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"We said, 'We think it\u2019s time for us to move on, that we have to start looking towards the future'. This is the right decision and this is the right time. Hopefully, he gets a fantastic end at Lord's,\" Key told the Test Match Special County Cricket podcast.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Key said that the discussion with Anderson lasted for one and a half-hour and the pacer was not 'expecting' it would lead end of his red-ball future.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"When we made the decision and thought we needed to meet Jimmy to discuss the future, Brendon concluded that the right thing to do was to fly over to England,\" said Key.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"We had a conversation for about an hour and a half, which Baz led. I don\u2019t think Jimmy was expecting it, but I don\u2019t think it was completely unexpected. We felt it was right that Jimmy and the public had the opportunity to say goodbye. We didn\u2019t impress upon him that he needed to make the decision there and then. Not so long ago he decided the Lord\u2019s game would be his last,\" he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In the absence of two stalwart England pacers -- Anderson and Stuart Broad, Key sees it as the door for youngsters to grab a spot.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"People need the opportunity to learn to bowl with the new ball, to go through a day\u2019s worth of Test cricket and back it up the next day. Now is the time for people to start learning that,\" he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
After the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and the USA, England will host the West Indies for a three-Test series, with matches scheduled at the Lord's, Nottingham and Birmingham, respectively.<\/p>\r\n\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2024\/05\/this-is-the-right-time-rob-key-on-james-andersons-test-retirement-at-lords.jpg", "alt_img": "\u2018This is the right time\u2019: Rob Key on James Anderson's Test retirement at Lord's", "alt_title": "James Anderson to retire following England\u2019s first Test against West Indies at Lord\u2019s (ld)", "image1": null, "video": null, "seo_title": "\u2018This Is The Right Time\u2019: Rob Key On James Anderson's Test Retirement At Lord's On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "\u2018This Is The Right Time\u2019: Rob Key On James Anderson's Test Retirement At Lord's, Test Match Special County Cricket: England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) managing director Rob Key feels that veteran pacer James.", "seo_keywords": "Rob Key, James Anderson, West Indies, New Delhi, Wales Cricket Board, Brendon McCullum, Ben Stokes, Test Match Special County Cricket, Stuart Broad, T20 World Cup", "tag": "", "tagging": "Rob Key, James Anderson, West Indies, New Delhi, Wales Cricket Board, Brendon McCullum, Ben Stokes, Stuart Broad, T20 World Cup", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": null, "slug": "this-is-the-right-time-rob-key-on-james-andersons-test-retirement-at-lords", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "0", "ians_date": null, "ians_time": null, "server_time": null, "trash": "0", "view_count": "853", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "1", "created": "2024-05-14 17:04:05", "updated": "2024-05-14 17:04:05", "img_from": "Image Source: IANS", "img_source": null, "schedule_publish": null, "news_keywords": "Rob Key, James Anderson, West Indies, New Delhi, Wales Cricket Board, Brendon McCullum, Ben Stokes, Test Match Special County Cricket, Stuart Broad, T20 World Cup", "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "1", "google_feed": "1", "read_more": "0", "posted_by": "23", "jio_date": "2024-05-14 17:04:05", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "1", "breaking_news": "1", "google_date": null, "featured": "0", "pred_match_id": null, "article_content_type": null, "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/this-is-the-right-time-rob-key-on-james-andersons-test-retirement-at-lords-144666" }