James Anderson turns 39 today. The numbers may give the impression that the modern-day greats are nearing retirement, but one look at their performances and it is clear that there is just one number for the fast bowler who is in great shape and his ever-increasing number of wickets. Keep adding. Starting his career in 2003, Anderson has gone on to become one of the greatest Test cricketers to have played the game.
In the 162 Test matches he has played so far, he has scalped 617 wickets – the only fast bowler in history to cross the 600-wicket mark in the format.
He is just three wickets away from finishing third in the list of highest Test wicket-takers, overtaking India’s Anil Kumble (619).
617 wickets included three ten-wicket hauls and 30 fifers, with a best score of 7/42. In his illustrious Test career, which spans almost 18 years, we look back at some of Anderson’s finest spells in Test cricket.
5/73 vs Zimbabwe, Lord’s 2003
Back when it all started. A young 20-year-old boy named James Anderson was selected in the England Test squad for the series against Zimbabwe, making his debut at Lord’s, the Mecca of cricket. A rookie who took the cricketing world by storm as he claimed his maiden half-century while scoring 5/73 in the first innings.
Anderson conceded 17 runs in his first over but came back strongly after lunch with a late swing to pick up four wickets. At that time, he became the first Englishman since Dominic Cork (1995) to claim a fifty on debut.
7/43 vs New Zealand, Trent Bridge 2008
Early in his career, Anderson was frequently in and out of the team, taking 80 wickets in the 24 Test matches he played. After being brought back into the team in 2008, England pinned their hopes on Anderson to swing the ball. The hosts scored 364 in the first innings, with half-centuries from Stuart Broad and Tim Ambrose by Kevin Pietersen for 115.
Anderson stepped up and recorded figures of 7/43 and 2/55 as England steamrolled New Zealand to win the match by an innings and nine runs.
He took 19 wickets in the three Test matches he played in the tour.
10/158 vs Australia, Trent Bridge 2013
Trent Bridge is Anderson’s favorite hunting ground and there is no denying that. Anderson’s best performance has come in Nottingham and in this particular clash, he scored another ten. In a highly thrilling Test match, England beat Australia by 14 runs, courtesy of the fast bowler’s 5/85 and 5/73 (10/158) in two innings.
11/71 vs Pakistan, Trent Bridge 2010
One of Anderson’s greatest spells came against Pakistan in 2010. The pacer took 11 wickets in two innings as England (354 and 262/9 d) beat Pakistan (182 and 80) by 354 runs. He scored 5/54 in the first innings, but what was more important, he was single-handedly removing Pakistan’s top order.
In the second innings, Pakistan were chased down by 435 after being declared by England, however, Anderson did not make it easy for the batsmen as he continued to wreak havoc and scored a scintillating 6/17 to help Pakistan manage 80 runs. But covered.
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