ENG v WI, Lord’s Test: James Anderson bows out on a high as England rout West Indies
James Anderson could not have asked for a better finish to his Test career as the England great bowed out on a high, watching a next-generation pacer rout the West Indies at Lord’s in London.
Anderson ended a decorated and awe-inspiring career with 704 wickets after bowling 40,031 legal deliveries — the most by a fast bowler in the history of the sport. Fittingly, Anderson got a wicket with a ripper of a delivery on the final day of his Test career.
ENG vs WI, 1st Test Day 3
England hammered the West Indies by an innings and 114 runs after bowling out the visitors for 136 in the second innings. It was a Test match that lasted only two days and a session. James Anderson picked four wickets in his final Test, including a three-wicket haul. Gus Atkinson, who was making his Test debut, picked 12 wickets — a seven-wicket haul in the first innings and a five-wicket haul in the second as Anderson enjoyed his company.
Despite Atkinson picking 12 wickets, it was James Anderson who led the team out of the ground. The Lord’s crowd was up on its feet, lauding the effort from the 41-year-old over the years. Anderson began his career in 2003 and wowed the world with his longevity, playing 188 Tests over 19 years. Anderson holds the record for most wickets, most deliveries, and most matches by a fast bowler.
The veteran seamer had an opportunity to pick a wicket on the very last delivery of his career, much like his former bowling partner Stuart Broad. However, te 41-year-old dropped a straightforward return catch in the 44th over of the second innings of West Indies.
It was an emotional moment, but Anderson did well to keep his emotions under check when he received a guard of honour at the start of the day’s play. On Thursday, Anderson missed out on an opportunity to add to his batting tally as he remained stranded on 0, extending a record for the most innings without getting dismissed in Test cricket.
Jamie Smith shines with bat on debut
Earlier in the game, after being put in to bat first on Day 1 by the England captain Ben Stokes, West Indies were blown away by the debutant Gus Atkinson who registered the third-best figures by an England bowler on Test debut. The right-arm seamer ended up picking 7/45 in 12 overs to bundle put West Indies for 121. Anderson also managed to open his account in his last Test, trapping Jayden Seales in front of the stumps late on Day 1.
In the second innings of the game, England lost Ben Duckett early in the innings for 3 (13). However, Zak Crawley (76 off 89) and Ollie Pope (57 off 74) stitched a 94-run stand to help England get the lead. Joe Root (68 off 114), Harry Brook (50 off 64) and debutant Jamie Smith (70 off 119) also made valuable contributions as England ended up scoring a massive 371 in the first innings and took a 250-run lead.
England ended up winning the game by an innings and 114 runs and Anderson bid adieu on a high. Meanwhile, the two teams will next take on each other in the second Test on Thursday, July 18 at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.