The name’s Anderson, James Anderson
NOW 41, AND CLOSING IN ON A MAGICAL TEST LANDMARK, JIMMY’S STILL LICENCED TO THRILL
JIMMY ANDERSON has a new lease of life and thoughts of retirement couldn’t be further from his mind.
Anderson, 41, could reach 700 Test wickets in the third Test against India, which starts tomorrow in Rajkot.
There were 186 days between the fifth Ashes Test in July and the second Test in Visakhapatnam and, rather than put his feet up, Anderson used the time to get fitter than ever before – and it showed against India.
Anderson took 5-76 from his 35 overs as the lone fast bowler in the second Test, producing a hall-of-fame delivery to dismiss Rohit Sharma. He now stands on 695 Test wickets and is showing no signs of slowing down.
Steven Finn opened the bowling with Anderson (top) during a win in Kolkata on their famous 2012 tour and, having since retired and become a pundit with TNT Sports, is in awe of his longevity.
“He looked 21 again, didn’t he? He is flying in the face of what ageing should be to a fast bowler,” he said.
“It can become hard to look after your body when you’re getting on as a fast bowler. I’m 34 and I struggle to get out of bed in the mornings with back spasms and other ailments.
“The fact that he is waking up each day enthused to play Test cricket at that intensity says a lot about him and the environment that Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum have cultivated.”
Originally known as a master of swing bowling, Anderson has now added many other strings to his bow, including the unpredictable wobble seam delivery.
Finn (right) took 125 wickets in 36 Tests and thinks Anderson’s thirst for knowledge has been key to his continued success.
“Evolving as a sports person over the course of your career is the kind of thing that keeps the candle burning,” said Finn.
“If you stagnate and try to survive as you are, you come to the end of the road and feel like you have nothing left to give. But when you speak to James Anderson, he’s always looking for ways to get better, to take wickets. And as long as that candle is still burning and that desire is still there, you feel as though there’s no stopping him.
“He’s probably licking his lips right now at the prospect of another English summer and going way beyond that 700-wicket mark.”
Anderson’s motivation to keep going has been fuelled by his enjoyment of playing in the Bazball era.
“Stokes never lets the game drift,” Finn explained. “There have been times on previous tours to India when it becomes a game of attrition and you just have to settle in and be boring as a seam bowler, hang in there and wait for someone to make a mistake. “Stokes forces people to make mistakes so the game naturally moves a lot quicker and is always interesting.”
Finn also feels Anderson’s fire is still burning because he loves passing on his knowledge to the next generation.
He said: “You get to a stage in your career when you take pleasure in helping other people. It gives you a motivation and a focus, outside of worrying about yourself. I’d say that it actually helps your game.”
■ Tune in to the third Test of England’s tour of India, live on TNT Sports 1 from 3.30am tomorrow. Sign up to TNT Sports and discovery+