The time has come to celebrate what is left behind. England stalwart James Anderson, who announced his retirement a few weeks back, played his final game against the West Indies at Lord’s Cricket Ground. It was an untroubled win for England, with no challenge countered by the West Indies, but the two days of the test match were full of emotions for the English team.
Anderson has been the torchbearer of England’s bowling attack for more than a decade, having started his career back in 2003 against Zimbabwe. It has been 21 years of forging greatness that has seen all seasons of this beautiful game.
Cricket has evolved in front of James Anderson. When he made his debut for England, Rehan Ahmed wasn’t even born, but Anderson’s longevity ensured that two uniquely different generations of cricketers played together.
Anderson rarely flustered in his career. He was a skillful bowler who kept sharpening his skills as a swing bowler throughout his career. It is like being a student of the game; you always learn even though you are as great a bowler as James Anderson.
In the era of jack-of-all-trades, Anderson stuck to his aced skill, which was swing bowling. On some occasions, when Anderson was at his best, it looked like a masterclass when he kept even the best batters in the world dazed and confused.
The final game was an emotional one for James Anderson. He was trying to stop his tears. Anyone can understand being in love with the game and having the privilege to play it at the elite level, and then one day, you have to give it up.
Emotionally moved, Anderson was received with a warm welcome by the crowd and a guard of honor by both teams. A loud cheer to celebrate his last day on the cricket field ensured the crowd and his teammates made it an unforgettable one.
England had already routed the West Indies in two days of the game. The visitors were 79/6, needing 171 more to take the game to another session. Anderson bagged another one like he had done for 21 years in his second over of the day.
There was a wonderful opportunity for him to end his career like a fairytale when he dropped a simple caught and bowled.
As the last wicket fell, there was jubilation for sure, but a certain embodiment of emotions. Anderson walked ahead as everyone else followed, a display of gratitude as he donned his cap to the crowd. There it is! The last sight of James Anderson the Great as an English bowler, nothing better than to end it at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground.
Anderson took 3-32 in the match and ended his test career with 704 wickets, only behind Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne. He played under eight captains, witnessed the rise and fall of English cricket in the last 21 years, bowled 40,000 deliveries, dismissed 261 batters, played with 109 different teammates, and played on 50 different test grounds, from Lord’s to the Gabba.
Hell of a career, isn’t it!
