Former cricketers Stuart Broad and Ian Bishop expressed admiration for James Anderson’s exceptional career following his final international match. Stuart Broad lauded Anderson’s enduring skill and noted that he concluded his illustrious journey with a memorable victory over the West Indies at Lord’s.
James Anderson announced his retirement from international cricket after the first Test of the ongoing series against the West Indies at Lord’s Cricket Ground. England sealed a comprehensive innings and 114-run win in the series opener. Anderson will remain with the England Test team for the rest of the English summer, transitioning into a mentoring role.
Stuart Broad and James Anderson shared a prolific partnership in Test cricket, featuring in 138 matches together and collectively claiming 537 wickets. This included 46 instances of taking five wickets in an innings and six occasions of ten-wicket hauls. Broad himself retired from international cricket following the Ashes series last year. They stood out as the only two fast bowlers to surpass the 600-wicket mark in Test cricket.
James Anderson Still Looks As Good As Ever – Stuart Broad
Stuart Broad praised James Anderson for his impressive bowling performance in his final match. Broad stated that Anderson’s performance remained exceptional throughout 188 Test matches.
“Watching him this week, how I felt is he still looks as good as ever, and it’s such a nice way to finish and walk off the field, knowing you can still do it. It was wonderful to see him still do what he’s done for 188 Test matches and walk off with a victory,” Broad told Sky Sports.
The 38-year-old emphasized that James Anderson valued moments of victory and camaraderie over individual achievements. Broad mentioned that winning Anderson’s last Test match was incredible.
“Regardless of the wickets and the amount he’s played, to Jimmy, it’s always been about those moments in the changing room of winning a Test match with the group of people you’re with. For him, looking back now as a former Test cricketer, the games he’s won have been outstanding. To win his last Test match is incredible,” Broad added.
In his farewell Test match, James Anderson contributed with one wicket in the first innings and followed it up with three more in the second innings. His final tally in Test cricket stands at an impressive 704 wickets across 188 matches, an achievement marked by three instances of claiming 10 wickets in a match and 32 occasions of taking 5 wickets in an innings. Notably, Anderson holds the distinction of being the lone fast bowler to deliver more than 40,000 balls in Test cricket, underscoring his durability and longevity at the highest level of the sport.
He’s Shifted The Thinking In The Game – Ian Bishop
Ian Bishop commended James Anderson for his enduring career, emphasizing his remarkable fitness, longevity, and adaptability over the span of two decades. Bishop particularly lauded Anderson’s ability to evolve as a cricketer, highlighting his record-breaking accomplishments and his significant impact on redefining the standards of fast bowling in international cricket. Bishop’s praise underscored Anderson’s influence not just as a prolific wicket-taker but also as a role model for aspiring fast bowlers worldwide.
“There are so many things we’ve already talked about like his longevity and his fitness. He’s gone where no fast bowler has gone before in terms of wickets, but from a skill perspective, the ability to swing the ball and be consistent with his length, the art of evolving over 20 years… I think he’s shifted the thinking in the game,” Bishop told Sky Sports.
Anderson made his Test debut against Zimbabwe at Lord’s in 2003. He is behind only legendary spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne among wicket-takers in Test cricket. He will transition into a mentor role after his illustrious career as a player.