England legend Jimmy Anderson will step away from international cricket this summer - after Brendon McCullum flew to the UK to tell him he is NOT in his plans

James Anderson, the most prolific wicket-taker in England’s history, is set to end his illustrious career this summer after coach Brendon McCullum told him the Test team would be looking to the future.

Anderson, who picked up his 700th Test wicket in India in March, will be 43 by the time England travel to Australia in 2025-26 in a bid to win the Ashes for the first time in over a decade - leaving the management keen to reconfigure their seam attack well in advance.

England play six Tests this summer - three each against West Indies and Sri Lanka - and it is understood McCullum flew to the UK recently from his home in New Zealand to personally tell Anderson about his plans over a round of golf.

It is unclear exactly how much of a role he will play before those six Tests conclude at The Oval in early September, though the temptation will be huge to make sure he takes the field against the Sri Lankans a fortnight earlier at Old Trafford, his home ground.

Anderson needs just nine more wickets to overtake Shane Warne’s tally of 708 and move into second place in the all-time list, behind only the Sri Lankan wizard Muttiah Muralitharan, whose haul of 800 may never be broken. 

And he finished the recent tour of India insisting he was in the ‘best shape’ he had ever been.

But, once the 2024 home summer is complete, England have only 12 more Tests before they head to Australia, and McCullum wants to arrive down under with a well-drilled pack of fast bowlers. 

For Anderson, who turns 42 on the last scheduled day of the West Indies series at Edgbaston, the end appears finally to be in sight.