James Anderson has been told this summer will be his England farewell tour, with Brendon McCullum flying over from New Zealand to personally inform him of the decision.

Anderson will retire as England’s greatest-ever bowler having taken a record 700 wickets across 187 Tests, with his longevity unlikely to be matched in the future.

McCullum and England are understood to be planning ahead to the next Ashes series, which will take place in Australia in the winter of 2025-26.

Anderson will end his international career this summer after six Tests against the West Indies and Sri Lanka, as first reported by The Guardian.

McCullum flew 11,000 miles to tell the 41-year-old over a round of golf that England will be looking to develop young talent moving forwards.

It is likely a decision the seam bowler will have been expecting sooner rather than later, with his 42nd birthday falling on the final day of the third West Indies Test at Edgbaston this summer.

His recent form has been markedly weaker than the consistent greatness England fans have come to expect, taking just 18 wickets at 50 in his past eight Tests.

But he will retire as one of the true titans of Test cricket, the leading wicket-taker among all seamers to have picked up a ball, only trailing spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne in the all-time standings.

Anderson needs nine wickets this summer to overtake the late Warne and finish his career as the game’s second most prolific bowler ever.

He will undoubtedly hope to play every available match of his farewell tour, but the first Test against Sri Lanka at his home ground Old Trafford appears ripe for a grand finale.

His long-term bowling partner Stuart Broad retired last summer, announcing his decision midway through the final Ashes Test and taking a decisive wicket with his final ball.

But while Broad retired from the game entirely, Anderson will likely continue playing at county level for Lancashire for as long as he is physically able.

Although this is probably the right time for a changing of the guard in England’s seam attack, losing Anderson effectively removes the Test side’s comfort blanket.

His immovable consistency and ability to perform in all conditions meant England always had an option to fall back and rely on. It is currently unclear whether anyone can assume that position moving forward.