Anderson: 'There are no thoughts about retirement'

James Anderson has insisted he has had "no thoughts about retirement" despite taking four wickets in his three Ashes Tests this summer.

Anderson, who will turn 41 this week, admitted he has been "frustrated" not to have a bigger impact on the series, but said in his Telegraph column: "I still feel like I'm bowling well."

He wrote: "I have certainly not had the returns I would have liked in this series. Everyone goes through a lean patch but you just don't want it to be in the most high-profile series we play.

"Ten or 15 years ago the debate would be about whether I should be dropped. Now it is about my future. I understand that. It is The Oval, the end of a series and a time for speculation.

"I keep talking to the coach and captain. They want me around, so as long as I am still hungry, want to put in the work then I will keep trying to give my best for the team. That is exactly where I am at the minute."

Anderson added that he still loves Test cricket "as much as I ever have" and that the last 14 months have been his favourite period as an England player. "There are no thoughts about retirement," he wrote.

"If I was bowling horrendously, with my pace down and hobbling around in the field I might be thinking differently. But the hunger is still there. I feel like I'm bowling well, that I can still offer something to the team. I felt like I bowled well at Old Trafford and if I get another chance this week, I will just keep trying the same stuff and hope my luck changes.

"It is just one of those things. There are always one or two players who have a lean series. It can be a batter who gets good balls and then a bit of bad luck. It felt like that was my week in Manchester. I felt like I beat the bat plenty of times, but just didn't take the wickets that you want as a bowler to help the team win.

"There were a couple of times when I bowled a tight five-over spell then Woody [Mark Wood] came on and took a wicket straightaway. It feels like maybe I created the pressure, then Woody came on and let loose. It's teamwork."

Anderson also declared himself available to play in the fifth Test at The Oval, which starts on Thursday.

"I've chatted to a few of the guys because it is frustrating when you go through this," he wrote. "You are frustrated and desperate to help the team, desperate to win games.

"But unfortunately for me it was not to be this series. I've still got another game to go if I do get a chance and I will try and do the best I can."