James Anderson, the veteran seamer of England, bid farewell to his illustrious Test career with a spectacular performance against the West Indies at Lord’s Cricket Ground. Spanning over 188 Test matches and more than two decades, Anderson’s final Test was marked by England’s dominant victory over the West Indies by an innings and 114 runs, wrapping up the first Test match in just two days and a session.
James Anderson’s legendary test career comes to an end
In his farewell match, Anderson played a pivotal role, picking four wickets in total, including a crucial three-wicket haul. His contributions were complemented by Gus Atkinson, who made a stunning Test debut by taking a total of 12 wickets in the match – seven wickets in the first innings and five in the second. Anderson and Atkinson formed a formidable bowling partnership that dismantled the West Indies batting lineup.
Match recap: England vs West Indies
England’s dominance began with their superb bowling effort in the first innings, where they bundled out the West Indies for a mere 121 runs within two sessions. Atkinson’s exceptional performance with the ball, claiming seven wickets for 45 runs, set the tone for England’s commanding position in the match. In reply, England amassed a substantial first-innings total, bolstered by five half-centuries, including a notable 76 from opener Zak Crawley and 70 from debutant Jamie Smith. With a significant lead of 250 runs, England put themselves in a commanding position going into the second innings.
Also WATCH: James Anderson receives Guard of Honour from England and West Indies players on Day 3 of Lord’s Test
Second innings and victory of England
England continued their dominance in the second innings by quickly dismantling the West Indies batting order, reducing them to six wickets for under 80 runs by the end of day two. Captain Ben Stokes contributed with two crucial wickets, solidifying his stature as an elite all-rounder by achieving the milestone of 6000 runs and 200 Test wickets.
On the third day, Anderson added to his farewell heroics by taking another wicket, while Atkinson wrapped up the West Indies innings by dismissing the last three batters. Despite a spirited 30-run innings from Gudakesh Motie, the West Indies fell short, conceding victory to England by an innings and 114 runs.
Legacy and records
Anderson concludes his Test career with 704 wickets, just four behind the late Shane Warne, marking the highest tally by any fast bowler in the history of the game. His mastery of swing and seam bowling, coupled with his longevity and consistency, solidifies his legacy as one of the greatest fast bowlers to have graced the sport.
Here’s how Fans reacted:
Hey Jimmy!
You’ve bowled the fans over with that incredible 22-year spell. Here’s a little wish as you bid goodbye.
It has been a joy to watch you bowl – with that action, speed, accuracy, swing and fitness. You’ve inspired generations with your game.
Wish you a wonderful life… pic.twitter.com/ETp2e6qIQ1
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) July 12, 2024
Congratulations on a fantastic career, @jimmy9 👏
Absolute GOAT 🐐 pic.twitter.com/FIzQRUUX6x
— Yuzvendra Chahal (@yuzi_chahal) July 12, 2024
Thank you Jimmy. It’s been a pleasure to watch you play. 🫡 #ENGvWI
— Dre Harrison (@DreHarrison101) July 12, 2024
England win the first Test by an innings and 114 runs!
Gus Atkinson with 5-61 to go with his 7-45 in the first innings #ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/20jBq4CkBg
— ThePoppingCrease (@PoppingCreaseSA) July 12, 2024
𝟳𝟬𝟰 Reasons Why 💙
Happy Retirement, Jimmy! 🐐#MumbaiMeriJaan #MumbaiIndians | @jimmy9 pic.twitter.com/pq4BVBH0fv
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) July 12, 2024
Royal farewell to arguably cricket’s finest swing bowler – James Anderson.🫡
England’s greatest ever bowler is honoured with a Guard of Honour as he walks out for the final time at Lord’s. 🙌
pic.twitter.com/aaImsBB2qB
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) July 12, 2024
Congratulations on your incredible career, @jimmy9.
Now an Honorary Life Member of MCC 👏#CricketTwitter | #ThankYouJimmy pic.twitter.com/h1iSm39LGy
— Marylebone Cricket Club (@MCCOfficial) July 12, 2024
Happy Retirement James Anderson 🤍 pic.twitter.com/4UaR7gY2LN
— ` (@chixxsays) July 12, 2024
England defeated West Indies by an innings and 114 runs in the first Test 🏏
Scorecard: https://t.co/S317V8hqdU#cricket #ENGvWI #JamesAnderson #englandcricket #lords #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/wvhF20C6jb
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) July 12, 2024
Happy retirement, James Anderson. Thank you for everything. Cricket is blessed. pic.twitter.com/t3LyQ1hbGl
— R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan) July 12, 2024
England take the 1st win of the Richards-Botham series.🏏#ENGvWI | #MenInMaroon pic.twitter.com/JwOz5jQFCX
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) July 12, 2024
From a career that felt endless comes a legacy that will be timeless 👏 pic.twitter.com/ufmI2qCbkh
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 12, 2024
Also READ: ENG vs WI – England skipper Ben Stokes pens a heartwarming note for retiring James Anderson
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