England captain Ben Stokes paid an emotional farewell to fast bowling legend James Anderson on Saturday, July 13 as the veteran seamer retired from international cricket. Anderson played his final Test match at Lord's, where he received a standing ovation from the crowd after England's emphatic victory over West Indies. Overwhelmed with emotion, Stokes struggled to find words to adequately praise Anderson's extraordinary career, declaring that even 15 minutes wouldn't be enough to fully express his admiration.
Ben Stokes all praise for legendary Anderson
"Sometimes you can be a bit lost for words, and if you gave me 15 minutes, I still wouldn't be able to compliment him enough. He is 41 years old and still always looking to improve himself as a bowler," Stokes said as quoted from Sky Sports.
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Stokes continued by heaping praise on Anderson for defying age and consistently delivering match-winning performances for England.
"If you look at how his career has gone, he's just gotten better and better, and that's a testament to his desire to always want to get better. He's always wanted to contribute to the team and every single time he's walked out onto the field, he's done that. He's a great person to look up to," he added.
James Anderson brought his illustrious Test career to a close with a respectable performance. The veteran seamer claimed four wickets in his final match, finishing with figures of 4/58. There was a chance for a fairytale ending when he had the opportunity to take the last West Indies wicket, but he unfortunately dropped a catch. Anderson retires as one of Test cricket's all-time greats. With 704 wickets from 188 matches, he is the third-highest wicket-taker in Test history and the leading wicket-taker among fast bowlers. His longevity is unmatched, as he played the second-most Test matches behind Sachin Tendulkar.
James Anderson's final Test match was a historic one. Not only did he add to his already impressive wicket tally, but he also became the first-ever fast bowler to surpass 40,000 balls bowled in Test cricket. This extraordinary feat places him among an elite group of just four bowlers to achieve this milestone across all formats. Anderson's dominance extends beyond Test cricket. With 269 ODI and 18 T20I wickets, he has been a consistent threat across all formats. His career trajectory is a testament to perseverance, as he initially struggled to find a permanent place in the England team. However, from 2007 onwards, he emerged as a force to be reckoned with, renowned for his ability to swing the new ball and consistently trouble batters.
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