Ageless ‘freak’ Jimmy Anderson is unstoppable after latest record

As much as Australians hate to admit it, Englishman Jimmy Anderson may just be the best fast bowler in the history of Test cricket.

While Anderson has taken more than 60 more wickets than our very own Glenn McGrath on top of the all-time wicket taking list for fast bowlers, we have long pointed to the averages.

Watch India’s Tour of England Live & On-Demand on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

McGrath took 563 wickets at 21.64, the fourth best for any in the top 50 Test wicket takers of all-time and better than anyone else in the top five, where he currently sits in fifth.

While Anderson has 626 wickets at 26.49, he’s a different bowler away from home averaging more than 30 everywhere but England and Wales, the UAE and the West Indies.

And it’s Australia that his figures are the worst, having taken 60 wickets at 35.43.

But at 39 years of age, Anderson is still England’s No. 1 seamer and has some Englishmen saying he’s even getting better in his 40th year on earth.

Maybe we can’t say he's the best ever — would take a lot to usurp McGrath — but it is fair to say Anderson has a freakish longevity.

In fact, he became the first ever bowler to have 18 years between his first and his last five-wicket hauls.

Who has 31 five-wicket hauls in Test cricket? That’s right Jimmy.Source:Getty Images

Anderson took his 31st five-wicket haul in 164 Tests and his seventh at Lord’s with 5/64 on day two of the second Test.

James Anderson is the FIRST player to claim five-wicket hauls in Test cricket 18+ years apart.
5/73 v ZIM at Lord's, 2003
5/62 v IND at Lord's, 2021

Frank Woolley and Lance Gibbs are the only other players with Test five-fors 17+ years apart.#ENGvIND

India had piled on 3/276 at stumps on day one but, led by Anderson, the hosts restricted India to 364 all out.

“It definitely is as special,” Anderson said, as he took his latest five wicket haul at the same ground he took his first 18 years ago.

“To get seven here is just incredible really … Hopefully, it’s not my last time on the honours board.”

It was a particularly commendable return given the 39-year-old Anderson had come into this game nursing a thigh problem.

Social media was quick to praise the ageless wonder.

Jimmy Anderson 29-7-62-5.
Dragged England backed into the game on his 76 year old shoulders. Freak.

Excellent day with the ball for England. Jimmy Anderson is actually getting better at 39. Joke of a cricketer. #ENGvIND

29-7-62-5. ER of 2.14

Jimmy Anderson does it again and again and again and he's only 39.

Sir Jimmy Anderson

Most 5- fors in Test cricket among active players:

31 – James Anderson*
30 – Ravichandran Ashwin

Jimmy Anderson creates yet another record!#ENGvsIND

You just can't keep Jimmy Anderson quiet, can you?! 9 wickets in the series so far and a couple of them have been absolute gifts. #EngvInd

England were already without Stuart Broad after Anderson’s longstanding new-ball partner had been ruled out of the rest of this five-Test series with a calf injury.

“I don’t feel an extra responsibility because he (Broad) is not here,” Anderson said.

Jimmy Anderson had another big day.Source:Getty Images

But England’s top order has once again had to be held together by skipper Joe Root after falling to 2/23 — the 15th time in their 19 Test innings this year they had lost their second wicket before reaching 50 — before 49 from Rory Burns and 48 not out from Root saved the day.

The hosts were 3/119 at stumps on the second day, still 245 runs adrift of India’s first innings 364.

“India probably still have the edge but if we can get a couple of big partnerships that gets us right back in the game,” Anderson said.

“Joe’s been amazing throughout his career and the stats in the last 12 months, with the pandemic and everything, it’s been superhuman.”

When Root hit 14 he passed Graham Gooch’s tally of 8,900 Test runs to go second behind Alastair Cook (12,472) in England’s all-time list.

— with AFP

Source: Read Full Article