Veteran England bowler

England pace spearhead Jimmy Anderson says he wants to play cricket until he’s 40 as he eyes the New Zealand series in November as his injury comeback for his 150th test.

The 37-year-old England test wicket recordholder bowled just four overs against Australia in the Ashes opener in Birmingham last month before a calf injury ruled him out for the rest of the five-test series.

With no Anderson to contend with, Australia went 2-1 up in the fourth test in Manchester to lock the prized Ashes urn away before the fifth and final test starts at that Steve Smith was mocking Jack Leach last night,’’ Pierse tweeted.

‘‘The fact is Steve donned The Oval tomorrow.

Anderson tried to prove his fitness for a return in the fourth test before switching his focus to England’s next series, two tests at Mt Maunganui (November 21) and Hamilton (November 29). England are set to send a full strength lineup to New Zealand after previous reports they would rest several frontliners.

In a column in The Sun, Anderson said he was devastated to miss the Ashes series but had given no thought to retirement.

The 149-test veteran has 575 wickets, fourth on the all-time list and 112 ahead of second-placed Stuart Broad, his regular new ball partner.

‘‘I’m going to look into how some glasses as a nod to the great Chris ‘Bucky’ Rogers.

‘‘Uncanny resemblance, wouldn’t you say!’’ [Manchester United legend] Ryan Giggs was able to play football at the highest level until he was 40. That’s what I’d like to do,’’ Anderson wrote in The Sun.

‘‘I am meeting the physios and medical people this week to map out a programme to try to make sure I’m fit for the tour to New Zealand.’’

(The test squad leaves on November 6).

‘‘I’m 37 now, and it definitely feels possible to play until I’m 40, if the hunger is still there. And it certainly is at the moment.’’

Meanwhile, Anderson backed his under-fire England captain Joe Root, who has scored a disappointing 247 runs at an average of 31 in the series.