187 Tests. 700 Wickets. 32 five-wicket hauls. 1 all-time great. Legacy assured.
After a career spanning 21 years (talk about longevity) and countless sparkling performances, Lancashire’s James Anderson has announced he will retire from Tests after the first Test against West Indies on July 10.
Fittingly for Anderson, the game will come at the home of cricket Lord’s- a venue where he has taken an astonishing 119 wickets in 28 Tests at an average of 25.16.
The 41-year-old also has an unbelievable record against their Caribbean opponents, picking up 87 wickets in only 22 Tests.
Nine wickets or more at Lord’s and he will overtake the legendary Shane Warne as the second-highest wicket taker of all-time behind Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan.
But as we say goodbye to the most prolific seam bowler in Test history, how will he ultimately be remembered?
And how can the Three Lions replace a legendary figure who has been a near constant presence in their side for two decades?
First bursting onto the scene as a raw 20-year-old kid in an ODI against Australia at the MCG in December 2002, bowling Adam Gilchrist for his maiden international wicket, the Burnley-born pacer was soon jettisoned into the longest format with a Test debut against Zimbabwe in May 2003.
There he took 5/73 to etch his name onto the famous Lord’s honours board, highlighting him as a serious prospect for the future. A bowler who would terrify opposition changing rooms with his searing pace and hooping swing.
Yet despite that initial promise and success, Anderson’s next few years as a Test cricketer were disrupted by injuries, poor form and flip-flopping in and out of a very successful outfit.
The famous fab four of Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard and Simon Jones (injury permitting) remained the vital cogs of an impressive pace attack, meaning Anderson unfortunately missed out on a remarkable home Ashes triumph in 2005; England’s first series victory over the old enemy for 18 years.
In 20 Test appearances from his debut in 2003 to the end of 2007, Anderson’s record stood at a less than impressive 62 wickets at an average of 39.21. Hardly the marker of a man who would go on to hit a record-breaking milestone of 700 wickets.
Bidding to change his fortunes, he remodelled his bowling action to one he felt more comfortable with. And boy oh boy, did it bring success.
As Steve Harmison struggled with his mental health, Matthew Hoggard retired and Andrew Flintoff ended his glittering career blighted by injuries in the victorious 2009 Ashes campaign, Anderson was soon establishing himself as the leader of the attack and someone who would live up to the hype generated in his early years as a tearaway quick bowler.
While his skills in exploiting often overcast and helpful bowling conditions at home were evident, utilising great accuracy and control of swing, the Lancashire man evolved into a bowler who could hold his own and take key wickets no matter the conditions.
The critics surrounding his perceived weakness abroad in many quarters were loud, but his performances demonstrated that these opinions were ill-advised and somewhat ignorant. Opinions that played down the greatness of a man who sustained the highest levels of success longer than anybody before him.
434 wickets in England will take the headlines, however 266 wickets at 29.83 across 82 Tests overseas (including eight fifers) is a record not to be sniffed at.
He was a huge part in England’s first victorious Ashes campaign in Australia for 24 years, collecting 24 scalps across five Tests as the Three Lions thumped the Aussies 3-1.
Even in Asia, often considered a graveyard for seam bowlers with flat lifeless tracks, Anderson is level with South African great Dale Steyn for the most wickets (92) for an non-Asian fast bowler.
Although he reached the milestone in ten greater games, Anderson hasn’t been blessed with the same raw pace as he progressed through his career, meaning he constantly had to improve and use different skills to thrive.
When wickets have been hard to come by or surfaces have offered little assistance, Anderson has also been to able maintain pressure and consistency like very few others could do.
His economy from the start of 2017 to his previous test earlier this year stands at a miserly 2.42 runs per over, granting other bowlers like Broad, Robinson, Wood etc. the opportunity to attack and threaten from the other end- an underrated skill in a format that requires patience and incredible fitness.
And even more staggeringly, Anderson has aged like a fine wine and taken his wicket-taking abilities to new heights as he has grown older- something you can hardly comprehend given the aches and pains of being a pace bowler.
Since 2014, he has taken a remarkable 360 wickets in 96 Tests at an average of 22.66.
The highlights include a career-best 7/42 against the West Indies at Lord’s in 2017, a game where he broke 500 wickets after castling Kraigg Brathwaite.
A year later he became the most successful fast bowler in the history of the game, surpassing Glenn McGrath’s long-standing record of 563 wickets as he bowled India’s Mohammad Shami at the Oval; the same game where fellow great Alastair Cook said goodbye to the international game.
Only Sri Lanka’s Rangana Herath boasts more wickets than Anderson’s 220 after turning 35, meanwhile Kagiso Rabada and Ravichandran Ashwin are the only men with 200+ wickets since 2014 to average less than Anderson (and marginally so).
Speaking on his BBC Tailenders podcast, Anderson said: “Baz [McCullum] came over from New Zealand, we had appraisals.”
“My future is obviously something that has been chatted about, I feel like for about 10 years.
“Every coach I’ve had has asked how long I’m going to play for.
“Looking ahead, could a 43-year-old me make an Ashes series in 18 months time? Probably not.
“It feels like a stretch at this point in my career.”
Amongst the glitz and glamour of T20, where players continue to be attracted by the quick riches of the IPL, BBL and various other domestic tournaments, it’s clear to see that Test cricket is sharply on the decline.
With that damning fact, it’s almost certain we’ll NEVER see a fast bowler reach 700 wickets again.
Joining his great mate Stuart Broad in retirement, the next chapter of English cricket awaits.
It’s time for the new kids on the block to step up….
Who will be next?
Left Arm Around 
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