The cricket world is set to see another emotional farewell of a cricket great. One of the best bowlers of the longest format James Anderson is playing his last test against West Indies at Lords. The veteran player is all set to hang his boots after the match. As it was Anderson’s last match, the Lords crowd wanted to see his magic once again. But young bowler Gus Atkinson grabbed all the limelight with a glorious 7-wicket haul.
Anderson’s Glorious Career is Standing at the End Point:
James Anderson, who started his Test career in 2003, has taken 700 wickets in 187 matches, placing him third on the all-time list behind Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne. Currently playing his 188th and final Test against the West Indies at Lord’s, Anderson recently showcased his skill with a seven-wicket haul for Lancashire. With an average of 26.52, he is the most successful fast bowler in Test history. England will deeply feel the absence of his remarkable presence on the field.
The Lord is witnessing Anderson for the very last time representing England. The crowd wished to see the classic ‘Jimmy Magic’ on the brilliance. Anderson didn’t disappoint the fans in his last match. While bowling in the first innings, Anderson secured one wicket by just giving 26 runs with an economy rate of 2.44. He bowled three maiden overs in his spells.
Atkinson Grabbed the limelight:
England debutant Gus Atkinson shone on the first day of James Anderson’s farewell Test, taking 7-45 at Lord’s. He became the fifth bowler to claim a five-for on debut under Ben Stokes’ captaincy. Atkinson struck with his second delivery as a Test cricketer, added another wicket before conceding a run, and took three wickets in four balls during the afternoon session. The West Indies batters had no chance to stand firm as Atkinson single-handedly dismantled their batting lineup. At the crucial moments, he secured wickets.
Atkinson was close to setting a new record for the best figures by an England bowler on Test debut. However, a late boundary left Dominic Cork’s 1995 record of 7-43 intact. Though Anderson was upstaged at his farewell, he might have felt nostalgic, remembering his own debut five-for at Lord’s in 2003. In between the emotional goodbye, England found a new gem.
Atkinson’s Words:
After the first day ended, Atkinson opened up. He said, “I was a bit nervous this morning. I woke up and all I could think about was the day ahead. I tried to keep as level as possible but my dad was saying, ‘This is the biggest day of your life’. I just said, ‘Relax, I’m trying not to think like that’.He’s a big cricket fan, so to make him proud and make my family proud is very special. Walking through the Long Room at the end and seeing him there was pretty cool. If you could ask me what I want in a day, that would be pretty close to the top.”
After Anderson’s tidy opening spell, Atkinson took center stage. He bowled at over 145 km/h with relentless accuracy, moving the ball both ways through the air and off the pitch. Atkinson used the Lord’s slope skillfully with his scrambled-seam deliveries, making them highly effective in the first innings.
While talking about this, he said, “My stock ball is that scrambled seam, it felt like today, bowling with the slope, bowling from the Pavilion End, that was my most dangerous ball. “I was targeting fourth stump and trying to run it down the hill and with the left-handers I was trying to push it across them with the odd in-swinger. I felt like that was the best way I could get wickets.”
Later he added, “The seam was probably a bit more scrambled than I’d like, but that is something I can work on. I feel like I can bowl quicker and hit the pitch harder when I bowl scrambled seam and it’s worked pretty well for me in the past.”
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