Legendary England pacer James Anderson was accorded a fitting farewell on Friday, July 12 as he brought down the curtains on his illustrious Test career at Lord's. The iconic venue played host to the final chapter of Anderson's journey, as he took the field for the third day of the first Test against West Indies. A resounding victory for England by an innings and 114 runs over West Indies provided a fitting backdrop for Anderson's swansong, with the crowd showering him with applause as he made his final walk back to the dressing room. As a fitting finale, Anderson made a final appearance on the Lord's balcony, raising a toast to the crowd that had gathered to bid him adieu. A viral video captured the emotional moment as the crowd sang a special song in his honor while Anderson enjoyed a celebratory drink.
CROWD HONOURS JAMES ANDERSON IN STYLE
The veteran seamer, aged 41, concluded his Test career with impressive bowling figures of 4/58 across both innings. His final Test wicket came in the first innings, dismissing Jayden Seales to bowl out West Indies for 121. Anderson's impact continued in the second innings as he struck early, dismantling Kraigg Brathwaite's stumps. He further chipped in with the wickets of Alick Athanaze and Joshua Da Silva. The experienced pacer had a golden opportunity to seal the match by claiming the final wicket, but unfortunately dropped a straightforward catch off Gudakesh Motie.
Anderson retires as one of Test cricket's greatest bowlers, with a remarkable tally of 704 wickets from 188 matches. His average of 26.45 and economy of 2.79 are testament to his exceptional skills. Notably, he holds the record for the second-most Test appearances, trailing only Sachin Tendulkar. Anderson's career finishes with a remarkable achievement: the third-highest wicket-taker in Test history, trailing only spin legends Muttiah Muralidaran and Shane Warne. As the leading pace bowler in Test cricket, his 704 wickets stand as a testament to his enduring skill and longevity. While bidding farewell to international cricket, Anderson will continue to contribute to England's success by mentoring the bowling attack throughout the English summer.
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