James Anderson retired from international cricket as England cruised to a resounding innings and 114 runs win over West Indies on day three of the first Test match at Lord’s on Friday.
This was the 41-year-old veteran’s 188th and final Test match before he retires from international football, and Anderson’s 704 Test wickets are the most by a fast bowler in the history of the format.
“It’s been an incredible week. I’ve been overwhelmed by the response from the crowd and everyone around the stadium,” Anderson told Sky Sports.
“I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished,” he added.
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But it was Gus Atkinson who ended the match. He caught Jaden Shields deep and the debutant fast bowler finished with excellent match figures of 12-106 to put England 1-0 up in the three-Test series.
West Indies were out for 136 in their second innings, and Anderson, who will be on 42 later this month, took a narrow 3-32 from 16 overs. They came close to defeat at 79-6 in their second innings, but were a full 171 runs behind England’s 37 in their first.
But Anderson has no chance of surpassing Australian great Shane Warne’s record of 708 Test wickets and becoming second on the all-time list, with just four more to go, behind another spinner, Sri Lanka’s Mutiah Muralitharan (800).
Before the match on Friday, the two teams lined up outside the pavilion to form a guard of honour for Anderson, who received a standing ovation from the crowd in the ‘Home of Cricket’, having made his Test debut against Zimbabwe in 2003.
Jimmy Anderson’s Last Test Wicket | 00:52
– ’emotional’ –
“It must have been emotional this morning, seeing the two teams line up and the crowd react,” Anderson said.
“I’m still trying to hold back tears. To play for over 20 years is an incredible effort, especially for a fast bowler, so I’m just happy to have come this far. It’s the best job in the world and I’ve been privileged to do it.” West Indies lost Jason Holder on the last ball of Thursday and, after Atkinson completed that over, Anderson was thrust straight into action at the Nursery End on Friday.
It didn’t take long for Anderson to hit the ball in his usual style. Joshua Da Silva, who had added just one more to his eight clean sheets the night before, swung a ball inside on an angle that wicketkeeper Jamie Smith caught easily. It was Anderson’s 24th birthday, his first Test appearance for England.
West Indies now sit 88-7 with many wondering why Anderson – who is set to become a mentor to England’s fast bowlers – is retiring when he can still bowl like this.
The selection committee made this decision because rebuilding was needed ahead of the 2025/26 Australian Ashes.
At the other end, Atkinson took his 10th wicket in the match by hooking a bouncer off Alzari Joseph.
Atkinson was only the third bowler to take at least 10 wickets on Test debut at Lord’s, after Alec Bedser (11-145) for England in 1946 against India and Bob Massey (16-137) for Australia in 1972. The 26-year-old then beat Shammar Joseph with a superb yorker that fell to the ground at the off stump.
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Anderson missed a chance to end the game in a fairytale fashion and his England career when he missed a chance to return a late penalty to Gutakesh Moti.
“Honestly, I’m still really upset about missing that catch,” Anderson said after the game.
Moti became the first West Indies batsman to score 30 in the match, but that could not mask the weaknesses of his team-mates.
West Indies were bowled out for 121 in their first innings, with Atkinson taking a stunning 7-45.
In contrast, all five England batsmen scored in the fifties, with Atkinson’s Surrey team-mate Smith scoring a superb 70.
West Indies have little time to regroup before the second Test, which begins at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on Thursday.
But at least they have the consolation of never having to face Anderson again.
