James Michael Anderson, OBE was born in Burnley, Lancashire July 30 1982. Nearly 39 years later "Jimmy" has taken more wickets than any fast bowler in the history of Test cricket.
A veteran of 157 Tests Anderson's International career began in the ODI side aged just 19, he had made only three one day appearances for Lancashire however those few performances where enough to earn him a place on England's academy tour to Australia that winter. When Andy Caddick went down injured the Senior side came calling. His debut would come at The MCG and he returned figures of 6-0-46-1 dismissing Adam Gilchrist for 124, not a bad first international wicket. It was in his 7th ODI that Jimmy made an eye opening performance with figures of 1-12 from 10 overs and 6 maidens as England nearly made a defence of a score of just 152. A place in the squad for the forthcoming World Cup in South Africa was confirmed.
It was during England's match against Pakistan in Cape Town that Anderson would showcase his talents to a global audience. Anderson ripped through Pakistan's top order removing Inzamam-ul-Haq & Mohammad Yousef for golden ducks before trapping Saeed Anwar LBW and then having keeper Rashid Latif caught behind also for a duck, ending with figures of 4-29 as England won by 112 runs.
Anderson blows away Pakistan's top order.
(C) Sky Sports 2003.
Elite sport can be a cruel game and Anderson lost his way as coaches tried to adjust his action with disastrous outcomes as he lost both pace and rhythm and for the next few years he was very much one of those some days he does some days he doesn't types of bowlers.
His second coming came on the 2007-8 tour of New Zealand, Michael Vaughan's fabled Ashes winning team of 2005 had disintegrated in no time at all, in Wellington England made the masterstroke of pairing Anderson with Stuart Broad. Between them they now have 1123 Test wickets and that decision has been fully vindicated. Anderson took 7 wickets in the match and has never really looked back from that point onwards.
Career best figures of 7-43 to date followed in 2008 as New Zealand again came unstuck against Anderson at Trent Bridge as he established himself as England's premier fast bowler. Test wicket 100 arrived later in the summer as South Africa great Jacques Kallis was trapped leg before by a viscous in swinger.
Anderson's next 100 wickets came in just 14 months, Peter Siddle was his 200th victim at Perth during a brilliant Ashes campaign for England, who won down under for the first time in 24 years, and it was Anderson who lead the England attack with 24 wickets at 26.04, helping Andrew Strauss become just the third England captain to win home and away Ashes contests. Andersons great mate Alastair Cook lead the way with the bat amassing 766 runs at an average of 127.66 including three centuries.
I was lucky enough to witness no 300 on an overcast afternoon at Lords in May 2013 as New Zealand opener Peter Fulton edged to Graeme Swann at 2nd slip as Anderson recorded figures of 5-47. Anderson would surpass Sir Ian Botham as England's all time leading wicket taker in Test cricket in The Caribbean in April 2015 with wicket keeper Dinesh Ramdin becoming victim 384.
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| Sir Ian Botham Congratulates Anderson after he beat his England record for Test Wickets. |
No 400 followed a few weeks later at Headingley as New Zealand opener Martin Guptill edged to Ian Bell in the slips. As with no 300, no 500 fell at Lords. West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite had his furniture rearranged by a beauty from Anderson that nipped back sharply off the seam. That was just the start of proceedings, by the time West Indies 2nd innings had come to and end for 177, Anderson had claimed Test best figures of 7-42.
It was with the final delivery of the Test summer of 2018 that Anderson wrote his name into the history books taking his 564th Test wicket as Indian tail ender Mohammed Shami was bowled to make our man the most successful fast bowler in the history of the game overtaking Australia legend Glenn McGrath. That ball also signalled the end of the Test Career of former England Captain Sir Alastair Cook who having scored a century in his first test innings against India in Nagpur ended his career with his 33rd Test century against the same opponents in his final innings at The Oval as England completed a 4-1 series victory. It was a highly emotional day for Anderson who struggled to hold back the tears during the post match interviews as he contemplated life in the England side without his great mate.
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| Anderson & Cook embrace at the Oval after Anderson takes his 564th Test Wicket |
During the COVID hit bio secure summer of 2020 Anderson would put himself into the history books once more as he became the first fast bowler and only 4th man ever to hit the landmark of 600 Test wickets, Pakistan Captain Azhar Ali edging to Joe Root at first slip at an empty Rose Bowl as fans had to make do with gathering around the TV or Radio set to witness the historic moment.
Anderson however doesn't just hold a place in the record books for his bowling. In July of 2014 Anderson and Joe Root shared a World Record 10th Wicket Partnership of 198, during which Anderson made his test best score and only Test match 50 with a contribution of 81. England had looked like they might have to follow on when made his way to the crease with the score on 298-9 but Joe and Jimmy had other idea's and eventually lead England to a first innings lead. The test match has also become infamous for another reason, Ishant Sharma became the only man ever to be dismissed by Alastair Cook in Test cricket as he tickled one down the leg side to Matt Prior as the match meandered towards a draw. It would be amiss also not to mention the heroic rear guard action Anderson and Monty Panesar shared during the first Ashes Test of 2009 in Cardiff as the pair batted for over an hour to secure England a draw, in a series they would go on to win 2-1. He also holds an England record of 54 innings without being dismissed for a duck, a fantastic achievement for man who has spent most of his Test career at 11.
Anderson is also a fantastic fielder and is closing in on a century of catches in Test cricket, not bad at all for a fast bowler who is equally adept in the catching positions close to the wicket as he is in the outfield.
Jimmy is now a full master of his art. He has always been good bowler of the away swinger but that has never been enough for him. A student of the game he has always been and still is looking to get better. He now possesses the full arsenal of swing seam cutters coupled with almost relentless accuracy. He said last year that he didn't know if he had yet peaked as a bowler, this at the tender age of 37 and remarkable figures of 6-40 in England's recent Test victory in Sri Lanka proved his point.
In 2017 Lancashire bestowed a great honour upon Anderson as they renamed one end of The Emirates Old Trafford ground after him. It takes a great player or person to have an end or stand named after them and such honours normally arrive well into retirement or posthumously, however Anderson has managed it while still playing the game, although in a slight quirk he has admitted he doesn't particularly enjoy bowling from the end which takes his name.
Anderson currently has 606 Test wickets good enough for 4th on the all time list, Indian spinner Anil Kumble's haul of 619 is next in his sights, although Anderson will insist he just wants to take wickets and help England win cricket matches and series and for now personal milestones are not something he thinks about too much.
England will play 17 possibly 18 Tests by the time the Ashes series in Australia comes to a close next January, Anderson & Broad will doubtless be rotated throughout the year but The Burnley Express still has a way to go before it reaches it's final destination.
Greg Griffiths
Jan 30 2021
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