English cricket has been in the headlines recently, and not in a very flattering light, but for the current players it is a rare period of downtime before they embark on a demanding schedule.
Next month they head off to Sri Lanka for a one-day series before returning home for Christmas, then leave again for Australia ahead of the World Cup early in the New Year. During 2015 those that play all, or the majority, of England's matches are due to spend more than 300 days living in hotels raising concerns about whether such demands will be lead to truncated careers.
James Anderson, who is four wickets away from breaking Ian Botham's England record, remains a key figure in the Test and one-day sides, meaning he could be involved in the bulk of the cricket, although the selectors will likely try to find him some breaks along the way.
When asked whether the schedule asked too much of the players, Anderson said: "Probably, yeah. I think we spend about 310 days in a hotel. It's just part and parcel of the job. You get used to it, I've done it for 12 years. Next year we've got the World Cup, West Indies, New Zealand and the Ashes in our summer then go to South Africa."
Whether by accident or wishful thinking, Anderson missed out the trip to the UAE in October and November which includes three Tests, five ODIs and a T20 against Pakistan. From April next year when the team play West Indies, until January 2016, they will rack up 17 Tests in that nine-month period.
Anderson has two children, aged five and three, and he is savouring the time he has had to spend with them now but, in a dose of dry humour although with more than hint of reality, added: "I'll see them again when they are six and four."
The demands of the international schedule played a central part in Jonathan Trott's withdrawal from the Ashes tour last year and although Pietersen was highly critical in his book of the way that was handled, Anderson believes lessons are being learnt.
"I'm sure it is linked, it's something that is being looked at, we do get a lot more help with the mental side of it because we are away from home for that long and it does take it out of you. We do need that sort of help and it's something that has been brushed over in the past and now people are realising with guys having to quit international cricket over it that it's a serious issue."
James Anderson was speaking ahead of his appearance on The Clare Balding Show, to see the full interview watch BT Sport 1 from 10:15pm on Thursday 16th October in the UK
Anderson prepares for year of hotel rooms
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Anderson prepares for year of hotel rooms
