England Test captain Ben Stokes delivered a touching tribute to James Anderson, who retired from international cricket after a long reign of excellence. Despite Anderson missing an opportunity to conclude his career in a fairytale manner, his achievements resonated powerfully throughout Lord’s, echoing his enduring impact on the sport.
James Anderson missed the chance to secure his final wicket in the opening Test against West Indies. As Gudakesh Motie gently returned the ball, it slipped from Anderson’s left hand. This concluded his last Test for England, where he achieved figures of 1/26 and 3/32 across both innings.In the post-match press conference, Ben Stokes praised the 41-year-old for his enduring contributions since his England debut in 2003. Stokes highlighted Anderson’s impactful journey in the team, acknowledging his consistent excellence and significant role in English cricket history.
“Sometimes you can be a bit lost for words, and if you gave me 15 minutes, I still wouldn’t be able to compliment him enough. He is 41 years old and still always looking to improve himself as a bowler,” Stokes said as quoted from Sky Sports.
“If you look at how his career has gone, he’s just gotten better and better, and that’s a testament to his desire to always want to get better. He’s always wanted to contribute to the team and every single time he’s walked out onto the field, he’s done that. He’s a great person to look up to,” he added.
In Anderson’s farewell match, the spotlight shifted to debutant Gus Atkinson, seen as a potential leader of England’s pace attack in the future.Having made a name for himself in first-class cricket, Atkinson introduced himself to the global stage with a remarkable seven-wicket performance in the opening innings.
Reflecting on his journey, the 26-year-old recalled fond memories of visiting Lord’s, where he witnessed Anderson’s mesmerizing spells characterized by graceful runs, seamless actions, and pinpoint accuracy. Atkinson’s debut marked a significant moment in English cricket, potentially signaling a new era in fast bowling for the Three Lions.
“It’s been an incredible week. I just want to say thanks to Jimmy, playing here in his last Test has been incredible,” said Atkinson.
“Growing up, Jimmy was someone I’d come here to Lord’s and watch, and standing at mid-off I was looking at Jimmy running in thinking I’d seen that so many times on the TV, so it was amazing. What’s so good with this group is you’re allowed to come in and be the player you want to be, and it’s helped me massively. To come out and do so well this week is fantastic,” he added.
After making his debut at the Lord’s in 2003, Anderson ended his illustrious career with 704 Test wickets behind the iconic spin duo Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne .
