On the morning of 22nd of May, 2003, England announced a shy but cheeky young debutante in their playing 11 against Zimbabwe at Lords. 21 years down the line on the 12th of July, 2024, the same lad walked out of the Lord’s Long Room for the one final time in his career. This time as a confident and a decent man. The crowd was in tears.
James Anderson played his final Test for England against the West Indies, capping off his remarkable career with a memorable performance. In the first Test at Lord’s, England outclassed the West Indies, winning by an innings and 114 runs in just three days.
Anderson took four wickets and led England towards victory. This feat made him the second-highest wicket-taker against the West Indies in test matches, with a total of 91 wickets.
Throughout his career, Anderson delivered outstanding performances against various nations, especially those where he took 90 or more test match wickets.
Dominance Against India
Anderson took an impressive 149 wickets in 39 matches while playing against India, averaging 25.47. He notched up six five-wicket hauls with his best being 5/20. He was particularly effective at home, taking 105 wickets at an average of 23.46. In away matches, he claimed 44 wickets at an average of 30.27.
Ashes Heroics Against Australia
For every Englishman, the Ashes series against Australia is always the pinnacle and so was the case with Anderson. He was a consistent force. Anderson picked up 117 wickets in 39 matches at an average of 35.97, with his best figures being 6/47. He achieved five five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket match haul. In 21 test matches in Australia, he took 68 wickets at an average of 34.01. In England, he secured 49 wickets at 38.69.
Mastering South Africa
South Africa is always a tough challenge. Anderson appeared in 29 tests and took 103 wickets at an average of 30.07 against South Africa. His record includes four five-wicket hauls, with a best performance of 5/40. Among pace bowlers, he is the highest wicket-taker against South Africa and ranks third overall, behind Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan. At home, he claimed 69 wickets, with 34 more taken in away matches.
Conquering the West Indies
Anderson’s remarkable performance against the West Indies saw him surpass Kapil Dev to become the second-highest wicket-taker against the men in maroon in test match cricket. He ended with 91 wickets from 23 matches at an average of 22.25, including five five-wicket hauls, with his best being 7/42.
In total, Anderson wrapped up his Test career with an extraordinary 704 wickets from 188 matches, maintaining an average of 26.45. His achievements have cemented his place as one of cricket’s greatest bowlers.
| OPPONENT | MATCHES | WICKETS | AVERAGE | BEST FIGURES | 5 WICKET HAULS | 10 WICKET HAULS |
| India | 39 | 149 | 25.47 | 5-20 | 6 | 0 |
| Australia | 39 | 117 | 35.97 | 6-47 | 5 | 1 |
| South Africa | 29 | 103 | 30.07 | 5-40 | 4 | 0 |
| West Indies | 23 | 91 | 22.25 | 7-42 | 5 | 0 |
Anderson vs The Rest Of The Teams
James Anderson managed to grab 84 wickets against New Zealand, 82 against Pakistan, 58 against Sri Lanka, 11 against Zimbabwe and 9 while playing against Bangladesh.
Apart from these stats, James Anderson also has 5 other unique records under his belt.
Most Wickets Caught by Wicket-Keeper
James Anderson holds the record for the most wickets caught behind by a wicket-keeper in Test matches, with 249 out of his 704 wickets. He is also second only to Muttiah Muralitharan, who has 167 bowled dismissals, with Anderson achieving 137.
Second Most Five-Wicket Hauls for a Fast Bowler
At 41 years of age, James Anderson has achieved 32 five-wicket hauls in his career, making him the sixth highest in the history of cricket. The only fast bowler ahead of him is New Zealand’s Sir Richard Hadlee, who has 36 five-wicket hauls.
Exclusive Century Club at a Single Venue
James Anderson is one of only four bowlers in Test history to have taken 100 wickets at a single venue. He has claimed 123 wickets in 29 matches at Lord’s, London. The others in this elite group are Muttiah Muralitharan (166 at Colombo, 117 at Kandy), Rangana Herath (111 at Galle), and Stuart Broad (113 at Lord’s).
Leading Fast Bowler in Wickets
With 704 wickets, James Anderson is the highest wicket-taking fast bowler of all time. His closest rival among pacers is his English teammate Stuart Broad, who has 604 wickets.
Second Most Test Matches Played
James Anderson has played 188 Test matches, the second most in the history of the game. The only player with more Test appearances is India’s Sachin Tendulkar, who has played 200 Tests.
Well this was James Anderson and his career which was no less than a cinema. As the cricketing public acknowledges greatness, Jimmy Anderson leaves the game.
The Sportz Planet Desk,
Atharva Shetye
