Farewell to the Legend: James Anderson Ended His Glorious International Career!

Starting his Epic cricket career in 2002, James Anderson served England with his seam and swing bowling brilliance for over two decades. He announced “Goodbye” to international cricket on 12^th July with the Test Match against the West Indies at Lord’s, where he played 23 test matches, bowled 5439 balls, and took 103 wickets of his career, making him the leading wicket-taker of this historic ground!

He has shown incredible consistency throughout his career, dedication, sportsmanship, and work ethic and has impacted England’s cricket success over the years. From the Pace Bowlers of the young generation to random cricket fans across the globe, they are getting inspiration from this legend as he is not just a great bowler but a successful person who motivates anyone in any field!

Early Career of James Anderson

James Anderson, also known by the name “Jimmy Anderson” or “Jimmy”, is considered one of the best swing bowlers of the current time. Starting his international career in 2002 through the ODI match against Australia in Melbourne, he was not very regular until 2007.

However, considering his promising bowling in the tri-national series, he was named in the England World Cup squad for 2003. He grabbed the light during the World Cup match against Pakistan, where he stunned the cricket world with his ten-over spell, ensuring a crucial win for England. Yet, he was not very regular on the team, especially in the ODI format.

The Struggle that Went Until 2007

Despite being one of the best swing bowlers in cricket history, Jimmy had to struggle in the early days of his career. Until 2007, he couldn’t make himself a regular choice for the England National Team. He was considered a soft personality, lacking aggression and a lethal attitude to perform internationally.

When he was struggling to get his bowling in proper shape, the England Cricket Board intervened and modified his bowling action, which again slowed down his growth. However, he could regain his form when he returned to his old action.

Some Mention Worthy Facts about James Anderson

In his 21-year career, James Anderson has some fantastic records that have lifted him to another height. Here are some of his records to distinguish him from others:

• He has played 188 test matches, the highest for England and the second-highest in world cricket.
• Anderson has taken 704 test wickets, the highest for England and third highest in history; the first is Muralitharan from Sri Lanka, and 2^nd is Shane Warne from Australia. 
• James Anderson has the record of bowling 40,037 fair deliveries in test cricket. No other bowler could even touch the milestone of 40,000 legal deliveries!  
• Well, there is another record that he may not like. He has the record of conceding the highest 18,627 runs in test cricket! 
• James Anderson is one of few players with more than 1000 runs and 100 wickets in Test Cricket despite not being an all-rounder!

The Last Appearance in International Cricket

Even in the last match, he was as lively as a young star! Yet, the test match against West Indies, where he took one wicket in the first innings and 3 in the second, marked his last international appearance, and the game ended even within the first session of Day 3 of the match.

Jimmy spent only 32 runs in 16.00 overs, giving a message that he can still contribute to the cricket. England won the game by an innings and 114 runs!

An arrangement of Guard of Honor was there from the England Cricket Board, showing gratitude for his incredible contribution to England Cricket.

What Makes Jimmy So Special!

In cricket, fast bowlers are hard workers, and it’s too tough for a quick bowler to carry on with his career for so long. Here comes the magic of James Anderson as he continued his job for 21 years with more than 700 wickets, a mark that no fast bowler couldn’t touch other than him! Despite having deadly speed, his accuracy, consistency in maintaining proper line and length and natural swing in deliveries have made him a special one in England Cricket and World Cricket.

He has a record of taking over 50 wickets against significant test-playing nations, making him someone special! Apart from being a top-class pacer, he has another record of having 62 not-out innings, which makes him a batter to rely on, even in the number 11 position!

In one interview, James Anderson said he started feeling even more confident after age 35! Like Chris Gayle served the team till the age of 42, it was assumed that Jimmy could do that as well as a fast bowler. However, what he did is exceptional for a fast bowler.

How the Fans and the Greats Reacted

Legendary cricketers around the globe shared posts on social media regarding his retirement. In his tweet, Sachin Tendulkar expressed his emotion for Anderson, mentioning his 22-year career as a beautiful bowling spell that ends.

Dale Steyn, another great pace bowler, said that the entire career cannot be analysed in a few sentences, yet he witnessed Jimmy’s last appearance. Suresh Raina, a former Indian batter, stated that Jimmy’s career ended a cricketing era.

The fans of England cricket and others shared their feelings as many of today’s middle-aged persons watched him since his teenage days.  

Some Final Words

So, this is the Goodbye to James Anderson, a legend of World Cricket. It is important to appreciate that he avoided controversies throughout his entire career. Being a gentleman, he earned the respect of all. Apart from cricket, he was also featured as a model because of his handsome appearance.

However, his fitness and consistency should be an example to the present-day bowlers. Though this is the end of his international career, he will be a source of inspiration for those who want to have a long international career.