Legendary England pacer James Anderson and third-highest wicket-taker in Test history, recently weighed in on the debate over the greatest batter of all time. Despite his many high-profile on-field battles with Virat Kohli, Anderson looked past the modern star to name Sachin Tendulkar as the finest to ever play the game. Having retired from international cricket in July 2024, Anderson's perspective carries the weight of someone who competed against multiple generations of elite talent.
James Anderson declares Sachin Tendulkar as the best batter of all time
The statistical records of the two Indian icons highlight why Tendulkar remains at the top of such lists. Throughout a monumental 24-year career, Tendulkar played 664 international matches and amassed a world-record 34,357 runs. While Virat Kohli is currently third on the all-time list with 27,975 runs from 556 matches, he still has a significant mountain to climb to reach the benchmarks set by his former teammate.
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In a video shared by Cricket on TNT Sports, Anderson also identified the best cricketers from other major nations. For England, he chose Joe Root, who is currently the country's leading run-scorer in both Test and ODI cricket. Root’s prolific form has seen him break the record for the most centuries by an Englishman, and he currently stands as the closest active challenger to Tendulkar’s long-standing record for the most runs in Test history.
When it came to the Australian greats, Anderson selected the legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne as the best player from that nation. Warne remains Australia’s premier wicket-taker in Test history with 708 scalps and finished an iconic career just one wicket shy of 1,000 total international dismissals. For the title of greatest fast bowler, Anderson looked to another Australian icon, Glenn McGrath, whose metronomic accuracy defined an era of dominance.
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Ian Botham is greatest all-rounder, feels James Anderson
The discussion turned to versatile talents, where Anderson made a notable choice for the greatest all-rounder. He bypassed South Africa's Jacques Kallis, who remains the only player in history to achieve the double of 10,000 runs and 250 wickets in both Tests and ODIs, to name England's Ian Botham as his top pick. Anderson also credited South African legend Jonty Rhodes as the greatest fielder to ever grace the game, acknowledging his revolutionary impact on the sport's defensive standards.
Regarding leadership, Anderson identified Steve Waugh as the greatest captain of all time. Under Waugh’s steely guidance, the Baggy Greens enjoyed a period of unprecedented success, winning 41 of the 57 Test matches played during his tenure from 1999 to 2004. Waugh’s legacy is further bolstered by leading Australia to the 1999 ODI World Cup title.