STRIKE 564
Bails flying, middle stump flattened. The moment Jimmy Anderson became the No 1 fast bowler of all time
Alastair Cook hailed Jimmy anderson as ‘the best cricketer England have ever produced’ after he wrapped up a 4-1 win over india to overtake Glenn McGrath as test cricket’s most prolific fast bowler.
anderson claimed his 564th test wicket with the last ball of the series when he bowled india’s Mohammed shami to seal a 118-run win at the oval.
‘i’ll share my champagne with Jimmy,’ said Cook at the end of his last test for England. ‘Everyone was saying to me to get my hands ready. We thought the cricketing gods might give us “c Cook b anderson” one last time. What a game of cricket, a great way to go.
‘i can’t describe what Jimmy must go through to do what he does. at tea he said: “i think i’m in for a long spell here”. He’s the best cricketer England have ever produced. He’s an absolute freak. it’s been a pleasure to stand at slip for him.’
the compliments flowed in the other direction, too, after an emotional week in which Cook marked his international retirement after 161 tests with scores of 71 and 147.
asked on sky whether he will miss having Cook around, anderson only got through a few words about his ‘best mate’ before breaking down.
But if Cook had hogged the applause for the first four days of another compelling test, it was anderson who finished with the gratitude of the oval crowd ringing in his ears.
and captain Joe root added his own note of thanks.
‘What Jimmy has achieved and what he’s capable of achieving still is astounding really,’ said root. ‘For him to be in the same league as McGrath, and now chasing the big three spinners, is phenomenal.
‘i think the most exciting thing is he’s bowling at his best and i can see that carrying forward for a long time still.’
asked about Cook’s farewell hundred, root replied: ‘i said it was written in the stars at the start of the week and for it to turn out how it has is fairytale stuff, isn’t it?
‘For alastair to go out like that and Jimmy to finish the game off in real style was so fitting for those two guys.
‘they are really close mates and they’re going to miss playing with each other.’
Both root and his indian counterpart Virat kohli said they had asked Cook whether he really intended to retire after his second-innings 147, but to no avail.
and kohli was left to reflect on a remarkable series in which he top-scored with 593 runs, without once falling to anderson, his nemesis during india’s visit here four years ago.
their duel, he admitted with a smile, had been ‘very competitive, but in the right way’.
kohli added: ‘as a cricketer, you want to be pushed and tested, and guys like him test you all the time. He’s been very relentless with his skills — that’s why he’s at the top of the fast bowler’s leaderboard.
‘He has a keen eye for seeing the faults of a batsman — and that’s a massive asset. He deserves what he’s achieved because he’s worked hard for it.’ kohli was equally complimentary about Cook: ‘i’d like to congratulate him on an amazing career as an opener playing in these conditions. We understand how difficult batting can be here.
‘But the fact that he scored so many runs all over the world shows the determination he’s always had to be able to play 160 tests.
‘i certainly have a lot of respect for him because he’s one guy who has not gone out of line ever. He doesn’t say a word to anyone in a negative manner — just carries on with his work and he’s very sure about his work as well. i wish him well.’