The world got to witness a 41-year-old James Anderson steam in to bowl at the ‘home of cricket’ for one last time as the pacer bid adieu to cricket, bringing the curtains down on a glorious and studded career. With 704 wickets to his name, the veteran is arguably one of the greatest of all times in the red-ball format of the game, having a reputation for tormenting batters throughout his 21-year-long career.
One can never forget the vicious inswingers & outswingers or the peach deliveries that Anderson was so adept in delivering, that too at the most crucial moments. With Anderson bowing out of the game, it is truly an end of an era for English cricket as the mantle now will be passed on to the young quicks, although the veteran’s skills and calibre remains unmatched and unparalleled.
End of an era as James Anderson calls it a day
England’s highest wicket-taker among pacers James Anderson had the perfect farewell at the perfect place and probably at the most perfect time. Riding on a high note for most of his career, the 41-year-old had decided that the 1st Test against West Indies at Lord’s will be his final game and rightfully so, England delivered the perfect farewell for Anderson by clinching a dominating victory over the Men in Maroon at Lord’s.
Times changed, captains changed and players went in and out of the side but Anderson was a constant in the England side ever since his debut in 2003. He finishes his career falling slightly short of Sachin Tendulkar’s record of having played the most Test matches – 200. Of course, with the good also comes the bad – an unwanted record of conceding 18569 runs throughout his career.
However, that is overshadowed by the levels of greatness that Anderson has exhibited year in and year out since he bowled his first delivery in an international game, having bowled over 6666 overs – a feat that no other contemporary bowler can probably ever match.
James Anderson and his love for wickets, India & Australia
Despite being optimistic about carrying on playing after a disastrous series loss against India earlier this year, Anderson decided that the time had come for him to hang his boots and let the youngsters take over. Anderson loved his duels with England arch-rivals Australia and India, bagging 117 and 149 wickets against the sides respectively in his fairytale career.
A journey that started off slowly in 2003 peaked in 2017 when he ended the year with 55 scalps to his name, a meteoric rise that never slowed down until the very fag end of his career.
Not just a one-format GOAT
Although James Anderson is regarded as one of the greatest of all times in the longest format of the game, he is no stranger to dominating the proceedings in the 50-over format as well. The veteran has 269 wickets to his name from 194 ODIs with an enviable economy rate of 4.92, and has been a part of several World Cup campaigns.
The pacer decided to turn his attention to the red-ball format of the game fairly long before many others decided to do so, establishing himself as a trendsetter who would lure in many others to follow his footsteps in the years to come.
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