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Sir James Anderson is widely regarded as the greatest fast bowler the world has seen in Test cricket. Representing England 188 times, the right-arm swing bowler took 704 wickets at an average of 26.45 before hanging up his boots in 2024. He ended his illustrious red-ball career on the international stage as the third-highest wicket-taker of all time, only trailing Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne.
A Test career spanning 21 years, Anderson has countless moments which are remembered fondly to this day. These include performances not only on home soil but also in tricky overseas conditions like the West Indies and the Indian Subcontinent, where seam bowlers usually do not have the best of times.
Anderson’s best figures in an Ashes Test against Australia came during the 2015 series on home soil, which England went on to win 3-2. The right-arm pacer started the proceedings in great fashion, dismissing David Warner in just the third over. The floodgates really opened after Lunch. Anderson quickly got into his rhythm to send Adam Voges, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill and Mitchell Johnson back into the pavilion to complete his five-wicket haul. The new-ball bowler would finally end with figures of 6 for 47 after he took the final wicket of Nathan Lyon to bundle Australia out for 136 in the first innings after the visitors had elected to bat first.
In one of his best performances on the Indian Subcontinent, Anderson took yet another six-wicket haul, this time against Sri Lanka at Galle in 2021. Having been put into bowl by the hosts, the Lancashire bowler took no time to get into the groove, dismissing both Kusal Perera and Oshada Fernando inside the first five overs. He would then go on to take the wickets of set batters Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Matthews and Niroshan Dickwella, with the latter two batting on 110 and 92, respectively. Suranga Lakmal was Anderson’s sixth wicket of the innings, giving him his best figures away from home.
Anderson’s best figures in Test cricket came during the 3rd Test match against the West Indies at Lord’s Cricket Ground. The game would always hold a special place in his illustrious red-ball career. The Burnley-born bowler took two wickets in the first innings and was stuck on 499 Test wickets. However, he was not forced to wait any longer. Anderson bowled an excellent inswinger to dismiss Kraigg Brathwaite and claim his 500th Test wicket. He would not stop there. The right-arm pacer would then get the wickets of Kieran Powell, Shai Hope, Roston Chase, Jermaine Blackwood, Devendra Bishoo and Kemar Roach to complete a seven-wicket haul for only the second time in his career and first since 2008.
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