Relief for pace ace Jimmy as he joins 500 club at last
James Anderson admitted relief outweighed joy after becoming just the sixth member of Test cricket’s 500-wicket club at Lord’s.
Anderson started day two of the third Investec Test against the West Indies on 499 and joined the elite band of bowlers when he clean bowled Kraigg Brathwaite in the evening session.
In doing so he became just the third seam bowler in history to achieve the feat, joining Courtney Walsh and Glenn McGrath, and added the wicket of Kieran Powell for good measure.
The West Indies closed on 93 for three, just 22 ahead in a tight series decider, but this was a moment to defer to the grand achievements of one man.
“It’s a bit surreal. I can’t quite believe I’ve got this many wickets or played as much cricket as I have. I’m more relieved to get to get it out of the way, to be honest,” he told Sky Sports Cricket.
“I wanted to get it out of the way, like I said, ideally (on Thursday). To get it early on in this innings was a good moment for me.
“It’s such a great place to bowl, is Lord’s. It’s such a special place for me – to get my first wicket and 500th here will live with me a long time.
“I’ve got my family and friends here to make it even more special.”
Anderson is 129 Tests and 14 years into his England career, and his longevity is matched by his remarkable consistency and mastery of the swinging ball.
If his current status has seemed assured for some time now, it was not always the case as fitness problems and early fluctuations in form gave the 35-year-old some testing moments.
“I had a taste international cricket quite early on. I knew I wanted to play for England... but there were kind of some dark times,” he noted.
“I got injured, left out of the side. It just made me more determined to improve.
“I knew I had some skills. I used to be able to bowl fast! I just tried to develop that and improve and get back out there.
“I just love playing cricket – that’s my biggest passion.
“It always has been since I was a kid.
“To be able to do that for my country in Test matches at Lord’s... I wouldn’t ever have dreamed of that.”