ENG vs WI | Legends and pundits react to Anderson bringing curtains down on illustrious 21-year career

SportsCafe Desk

BySportsCafe Desk, SportsCafe Editor

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England's highest wicket-taker of all time and the most prolific pacer in Test history James Anderson hung his boots at 41 after a successful farewell Test against the West Indies at Lord's. The right-arm quick finished with 704 Test and 991 int'l wickets as a flurry of tributes poured in.

‌James Anderson debuted for England in an ODI against Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground in December 2002 before being handed a Test cap five months later against England at Lord's. The Lancashire quick, nicknamed the Burnley Express for his raw pace early in his career, was in and out of the red-ball setup for the next five years but a successful series in New Zealand, where he was paired with Stuart Broad for the first time, cemented Anderson's place in England's best XI. Over the next decade and a half, Anderson grew a reputation as one of the most skilful pacers in the world, given his ability to swing and seam the ball both ways, wield the wobble and cross-seam with great effect, and exhibit unmatched control over length.

Anderson played 194 ODIs, scalping 269 wickets while averaging under 30 and an economy of 4.92, but was phased out following England's disastrous 2015 ICC World Cup campaign. The veteran also briefly featured in the T20I set-up between 2007 and 2009, managing 15 appearances but it was in the all-whites that Anderson had his greatest hits. He was capped 188 times for the Three Lions in Tests, only second to Sachin Tendulkar's 200, and finished as the third-highest wicket-taker of all time with 704 scalps at an average of 26.45.

A living legend, Anderson was eventually asked to hang up his boots by the leadership triumvirate of Ben Stokes, Brendon McCullum, and Rob Key to allow young pacers to stake a claim for the 2026 Ashes. Thus, the 41-year-old took to Lord's against West Indies on Wednesday aware it was to be his last dance, managing returns of 1/26 and 3/32 in the two innings respectively to help England clinch an innings victory. Anderson could even have had a 705th scalp were it not for a dropped return catch at the tail end of the match. The icon walked off to a rousing ovation once victory was confirmed as legends and celebrities from all around the world took to their social media to express gratitude and respect for the hall of fame career.

The farewell

Goodbye from god

Finest craftsman

Special days

End of an incredible career

Best wishes

The champion

Unparelleled skill

Greatest ever

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