James Anderson Test Retirement: James Anderson’s last day playing cricket for his country began with a guard of honor. As he stepped onto the pitch at Lord’s, the West Indies lineup and his England teammates cheered him on, and skipper Kraigg Brathwaite shook his hand. James Anderson retires at the age of 41.
Last Test Match Summary
Taking the ball from the Nursery End, which is not his favorite end at Lord’s, James Anderson hit his sixth wicket of the morning in his last Test match. Anderson masterfully dismissed Joshua da Silva, tricking him into playing across the line with an outswinger that angled in and then swung away late to get the upper hand.
Gus Atkinson was drawing near to his landmark at the Pavilion End. After taking out Alzarri Joseph to secure ten wickets in his debut, he tore Shamar Joseph’s stump off the ground, giving him four wickets in the second inning.
Jimmy Anderson had an opportunity to make his last delivery as a Test cricket player a match-winning wicket, with Atkinson chasing a five-for at the far end and the West Indies nine wickets down. As Gudakesh Motie returned the chip, it appeared to be the ideal conclusion.
…However, the ball slipped by him, causing Anderson to shield his face with his hand before smirking in shock. Take a close look below to see Ben Stokes’s response at the halfway point.
Atkinson’s catch of Jayden Seales, caught in the deep on the leg side, completed England’s innings triumph. That meant that on his Test debut, he concluded the game with 12 wickets and a second five-for.
But it was up to James Anderson to lead England off the field at Lord’s, where he had played his Test debut match against Zimbabwe back in 2003, to a standing ovation. James Anderson has taken 704 test wickets in his career.
Last Moments of James Anderson on His Test Retirement
In the England changing room, Nasser Hussain interviewed with him while he held a Guinness. He then had a few chances to gather himself before the post-match presentation.
Before ECB chair Richard Thompson made a comparable presentation, MCC president and incoming chair Mark Nicholas gave him an honorary life membership.
The audience cheered him on multiple times and even broke into one last chorus of “Oh, Jimmy, Jimmy.”
Anderson still had to finish up a TV interview for Sky Sports, so he wasn’t done yet.
At last, he was allowed to really take in everything on a day that was especially significant for both Anderson and English cricket in general.
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