James Anderson was ‘overwhelmed’ by the support and adulation he has received as he headed into the sunset at Lord’s, the same venue where he made his Test debut against Zimbabwe in 2003.
Anderson, an England great, retired at Lord’s as one of just the three bowlers in the coveted 700- wicket club in the red-ball format and had a realistic shot at surpassing Shane Warne’s tally of 708 scalps in his final Test. Anderson’s longevity as a professional cricketer is admired by the cricketing fraternity, and his commitment to fitness was evident in the sliding save he pulled off at the boundary rope following a quick sprint.
“Playing for 20-odd years is an incredible effort, especially for a fast bowler, so I’m happy I’ve made it this far and happy I’ve been lucky enough to stay injury-free pretty much throughout my career,” Anderson reflected. ”Playing for England is the best job in the world and I’ve been privileged to do it for a long time.”
Jimmy's family and the whole of Lord's rise to applaud a true legend of the game 🥰
They don't make 'em like Jimmy Anderson anymore ❤️ pic.twitter.com/seXVMuFQhG
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 12, 2024
England have added pacer Mark Wood to the squad in place of Anderson for the second Test which starts on July 18 at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.
Wood, who played three of the five Tests against India earlier this year, was part of England’s T20 World Cup squad and featured in five matches during the campaign.
With his first Test captain to his right, and his last Test captain to his left…
The entire dressing room stands to celebrate the great Jimmy Anderson 😍 pic.twitter.com/u8whZRgSe4
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 12, 2024
