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Jimmy Anderson can keep playing Test cricket next summer and beyond, despite being left out of the Ashes opener at Brisbane. That's the view of England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler, as Australia reacted with disbelief to Anderson's omission from the Gabba.
England insisted they had always planned to leave their leading wicket-taker out of the first Test as they try to manage him through a punishing schedule of five games in six weeks.
And Buttler claimed there was no reason Anderson couldn't continue to take wickets well into 2022, when he turns 40.
Jos Buttler has backed Jimmy Anderson (above) to play a major role in the Ashes despite being omitted from the first Test
England's record wicket-taker was passed fit to face Australia in Brisbane but was left out as a precautionary measure
'It seems that age is just a number for Jimmy,' he said. 'He's in fantastic shape, his skills are brilliant as always and he still seems to be trying to improve and learn new things.
'That hunger doesn't seem to be wavering at all. He still gets just as grumpy if he bowls a bad ball, and that competitiveness is incredibly high in anything he does, let alone on a cricket field.
'I certainly see him wanting to continue as long as he can, and there doesn't feel like there's anything in the way of him doing that at the moment.'
The England management played down suggestions Anderson was being omitted because of a calf injury, leaving some in Australia incredulous that the tourists would willingly go into the series without a bowler who has 632 Test