'Like I was in Goodfellas': Jimmy reveals Bazball chiefs' retirement ...

Fast bowling great James Anderson has revealed how he walked into an ambush like in gangster movie Goodfellas at his infamous meeting with England team management that forced his retirement from Test cricket earlier this year.

Anderson met England coach Brendon McCullum, captain Ben Stokes and managing director Rob Key at a hotel in Manchester in April for what he thought was a catch-up to recap the tour of India and plan for the home summer, but instead the meeting was to close the curtain on his 22-year international career.

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McCullum had flown in from New Zealand to deliver the news in person, but the 41-year-old did not pick up on the signs that he was being phased out until he arrived at the Dakota Hotel.

In his new book, aptly named ‘Finding the Edge’, Anderson revealed his shock at how the meeting played out.

“As I walk towards them, it hits me cold. This isn’t a team appraisal, is it?” Anderson wrote.

“With each footstep towards the far side of the bar, each of their distinct silhouettes coming into view, the tram journey just gone is suddenly like a blissful past life, the outdoor sun sucked into a horizonless neon-red darkness.

“My brain is doing the maths and my heart is sinking as I go to shake their hands. I feel like Joe Pesci in Goodfellas, ushered into a room under the impression that I’m going to get made, only to be shot. You f******.

“They’re going to tell me something I don’t want to be told, aren’t they? Something I’ve been swerving, darting, shapeshifting, bowling through for my whole life.”

Anderson went on to say that McCullum essentially issued a prepared statement to him - the focus of which was that they were looking to the future because he would not make it to the Ashes tour of Australia in 2025/26.

It was not the first time Anderson had received news of that kind.

His career was extended by the McCullum/Stokes/Key axis as the previous regime tried to move on from he and regular new ball partner Stuart Broad when they were left out of a three-Test series in the West Indies - which they lost 1-0 - in 2022.

That time Anderson only received a short phone call from then interim director of cricket, and his former captain, Sir Andrew Strauss to deliver the news.

In both instances however, Anderson said he could only respond by saying ‘okay’ and try to process his disappointment.

He ended up taking the option given to him of playing a farewell Test - which took place against the West Indies at Lords in the first Test of this year’s English summer - rather than retiring immediately.

It was his 188th Test and he finished with 704 wickets - both England records - to be the most prolific fast bowler of all time, and third overall behind Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne.