Jimmy earns place among world greats
JAMES Anderson struggled to control his emotions as he reflected on the moment he became the world’s most successful pace bowler – and saw his great friend Alastair Cook end his international career.
Anderson capped a match of high-profile milestones by overtaking Australia great Glenn McGrath when he took the final wicket of the fifth Specsavers Test to bowl India out for 345 and deliver a 118-run and 4-1 series victory.
England’s all-time leading wicket-taker is up to fourth on the global list, alone as a seamer on 564 career victims – with only three great spinners still above him.
His achievement followed Cook’s fairytale sign-off with a century in his last Test innings the previous day – and as Anderson recalled clean-bowling India tailender Mohammed Shami on the final evening at The Oval, his fellow national record-holder was uppermost in his thoughts.
“He is my best mate, and it’s been brilliant,” the 36-year-old said, before his voice began to crack at the post-match presentation.
“I’m happy that Cooky was on the field to see that wicket.”
Anderson was in danger of finishing his summer merely level with McGrath, as KL Rahul (149) and Rishabh Pant (114) shared a sixth-wicket stand of 204 to keep India in with a chance of a world-record chase.
But England captain Joe Root persisted with him in a spell that was into its 14th over either side of tea by the time he struck.
Anderson added: “I just got into a really good rhythm and thankfully Joe let me take the new ball, eventually.
“It gave me half-achance to get that wicket!”
Root admitted he did not fancy his prospects of suggesting someone else bowl instead from the Vauxhall End.
“I think it would have been ‘good luck ...’, trying to get the ball from him,” said the England captain.
“Especially once that new ball came out, he had that bit between his teeth.”
He added: “What Jimmy has achieved, and what he’s capable of achieving still, is astounding really.”
Following the victory, Cook called Anderson ‘England’s greatest cricketer’.
“It was a great way to finish, Jimmy knocking the stumps over,” Cook said. “That’s the couple of things you really will miss, standing at slip, dropping Jimmy’s catches.
“And the number of flights, hotel rooms, room service dinners, meals out. Hours on the field we spend together, obviously I’m going to miss that.
“But it will be a privilege to sit and watch him continue to take wickets.
“I think he’s England’s greatest cricketer.”