James Anderson’s illustrious career in international cricket will come to an end with the conclusion of the ongoing first Test between England and West Indies at Lord’s.
More than two decades after making his Test debut at Lord’s, James Anderson is currently playing his final Test at the same iconic venue. The right-arm spinner will retire from the game as the most prolific fast bowler in the history of Test cricket. No player has taken more wickets than him in the longest format of the game.
Only legendary bowlers Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne have taken more wickets than him in Tests. Earlier this year, he became the first fast-pacer to reach 700 wickets in Tests, achieving the monumental milestone against India during the Dharamsala Test. No bowler has played more Tests than him, with only the legendary Sachin Tendulkar surpassing him on the list.
And when James Anderson took to the field for his final Test match, he received a rousing reception from the fans at Lord’s. The fast bowler led the England team in his final Test match for the country as the entire stadium gave him a standing ovation. His friends and family were also in the stands to witness the special game.
Watch James Anderson lead England:
James Anderson leads England ahead of his final Test match for England 🏴🙌 pic.twitter.com/TOtTQnpb9l
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 10, 2024
Talking about the match, England won the toss and opted to bowl first. West Indies were at 18 and without loss at the time of writing this report.
Earlier this week, James Anderson said he is still good enough to play Test cricket but has no choice but to retire. Earlier this year, England captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had asked Anderson to quit international cricket as they wanted to begin preparations for next year’s Ashes in Australia.
“I feel in better shape than ever, like I’m playing better than ever. I still think I could do a good job,” Anderson said ahead of the ongoing test.
