James Anderson believes he can still be the best bowler in the world at the age of 37 and is willing to try anything that will help him keep going at the highest level, including veganism.

Anderson has spent the last few weeks on the sidelines with a calf injury that reduced him to a peripheral role in the Ashes, bowling just four overs on the opening day of the series before being ruled out.

After 16 years of international cricket, 149 Test caps and an English record of 575 wickets he would be forgiven for thinking that a glorious career was coming to an end.

Archer will outlast both of the senior men, who will each leave enormous shoes to fill when they finally take their leave.

Anderson has been batting off questions about his swansong for years – with his steadily improving record doing so more eloquently than words ever could – but insists he will know before anyone else when the time comes.

"Going through rehab can be tough mentally if there were any doubts that's when they'd come, but the fact I want to do it and am keen to get going again means I'm still hungry," he said.

"I'm realistic. If I'm not good enough and feel I'm detracting from the team and I'm too slow then I'm not going to embarrass myself or drag the team down. I'll only keep playing if I think I can be one of the best bowlers in the world and if I think I can help this team win games of Test cricket. I'm not just blinkered thinking I'm going to just eke out as many games as I can."

James Anderson was speaking on behalf of 'The Test Experts' Specsavers, Official Test Partner for England cricket ahead of the final Test of the Specsavers Ashes Series at The Oval.