Jimmy Anderson signed off in style on Friday by taking four wickets in the first Test against the West Indies in his final swansong in an England shirt.
His country’s greatest ever fast bowler bid a final farewell to the international stage with a dominant win against West Indies that barely made it into the second day, and cut an emotional figure afterwards.
Although they are different bowlers in terms of style, the torch was passed on to Surrey’s Gus Atkinson, who took 12 wickets in the match on debut for his country.
The focus, however, was on Anderson, who received the hero’s reception only he deserves from a grateful Lord’s, as he prepares for the next stage of his career with England now looking beyond him.
Mail Sport’s LAWRENCE BOOTH offers Top Spin on Lord’s Test…
Gus Atkinson showed the future is bright for England with a debut to remember at Lord’s
However, the focus has turned to Jimmy Anderson, who has retired from international cricket for good.
Atkinson recorded the fourth-best figures for a debutant in Test cricket with a dominant performance.
Atkinson leaves his mark
Gus Atkinson’s match figures of 12 for 106 were the fourth-best in Test history by a player making his debut, behind Indian spinner Narendra Hirwani (16 for 136 against West Indies at Chennai in 1987–88), Australian swing player Bob Massie (16 for 137 at Lord’s in 1972) and English medium pacer Frederick ‘Nutty’ Martin (12 for 102 against Australia at The Oval in 1890).
England will now look to the future, of which Atkinson is likely to be a big part, for their team.
Jimmy’s success against the West Indies…
Jimmy Anderson finished with 91 Test wickets against the West Indies at 22 apiece, second only to Australia’s Glenn McGrath, who made 110 at 19.
…And he didn’t do too badly at Lord’s either!
Anderson’s final total at Lord’s was 123 under 25. Next on the list is Stuart Broad, on 113 under 27.