Partings
are sad ! Retirement is painful and emotional – no confession of a recent retiree ! a post
on a hero who has just retired !!
"Gus apologised for taking that last wicket," Ben Stokes, England's captain, told the media afterwards, before pausing on the punchline to check the TV cameras weren't taking his comments live. A farewell to a great Cricketer ended with a stooped-shouldered apology. Ben Duckett, feet planted inside the Grandstand boundary, settled beneath a top-edged pull off Jayden Seales ; Gus Atkinson, standing at the end of his follow-through, bowed his head in supplication, even as he completed a debut match haul of 12 for 106, the fourth-best in Test history, and the best by an Englishman for 134 years.
The scorecard reveals the ignominy but would never capture the emotions ! - England 371 (Crawley 76, Smith 70, Root 68, Pope 57, Brook 50, Seales 4-77) beat West Indies 121 (Atkinson 7-45) and 136 (Atkinson 5-61, Anderson 3-32) by an innings and 114 runs.
Before bowing down at Lords, James Anderson fulfilled his wish of contributing to a big win but not the fairytale five-for that seemed there for the taking at the start of day three. He finished with three in the innings, four in the match, and 704 for a Test career that has spanned more than two decades, as England completed the formalities of a crushing victory over West Indies.
Some would recall that test at Lords in May 2003 against a lowly Zimbabwe. The man of the post made his debut in that test alongside Antony McGrath and Sean Earvine who together did not play 10 tests. His 5 wicket haul in debut was overshadowed by the innings of Butcher as England won by an innings and 92 runs – that was James Anderson.
When James Anderson bowled the last delivery of his 17th over in the New Zealand second innings in Christchurch on Tuesday 3 April, 2018, he became the owner of a record that spoke volumes of his longevity. Anderson, had just bowled 30,020th legal delivery, which was more than any other fast bowler in history – the record had belonged to Courtney Walsh, who had sent in 30,019 balls over his 132-Test career spanning 17 years. Anderson got past the Windies great in his 136th Test. Now after 21 years, he had delivered more than 40,000 balls across 188 Test matches, James Anderson's international career is over. During his 21-year test career, Anderson bowled 40037 legitimate bowls in test matches. He is the first fast bowler to bowl more than 40,000 legitimate bowls in test matches. In the all-time list, he is fourth after Muthiah Muralidaran (44039), Anil Kumble (40850), and Shane Warne (40705).
England's greatest-ever bowler and the leading wicket-taker in Test history among seamers bowed out with three second-innings wickets in a crushing victory over West Indies at Lord's on Friday, 21 years after making his debut in the format against Zimbabwe at the same venue.
Anderson's 500th Test wicket came in September 2017 when he dismissed Kraigg Brathwaite in a Lord's Test against the West Indies. It was a delivery that illustrated his talent, coming down the slope to hit middle stump (his 501st - to bowl Kieran Powell - was even better). He became only the sixth player, and third pace bowler seamer after McGrath and Courtney Walsh, to reach the landmark and admitted to feeling emotional. " By early 2023, he had overtaken Anil Kumble in the all-time Test wicket-takers list, and had the 700-mark firmly in his sights.
Playing on past his
40th birthday, Anderson continued to generate decent pace and had became a
master craftsman. James Anderson's final day as an international cricketer
started with a guard of honour. He was applauded onto the pitch at Lord's by
his England team-mates and the West Indies' line-up, with captain Kraigg
Brathwaite shaking his hand as he walked on. With Atkinson hunting a five-for
at the far end but West Indies nine wickets down, Anderson
had a chance to make his final ball as a Test cricketer a match-winning wicket.
It looked like the perfect ending when Gudakesh Motie chipped one back to
him... ...but the ball evaded his grasp, leaving Anderson covering his face
with his hand before smirking in disbelief. Then there were smiles and emotions died down
!!
It was left to Anderson to lead England off the field to a standing ovation at Lord's, the same venue where he played his first Test against Zimbabwe back in 2003. He was presented an honorary life membership by MCC president (and incoming chair) Mark Nicholas, before ECB chair Richard Thompson performed a similar presentation.
Anderson sits third in the all-time list of leading wicket-takers in Test cricket, behind only Shane Warne and Muthiah Muralidaran. Joshua da Silva became his 704th and final wicket, edging an outswinger through to England's debutant wicketkeeper Jamie Smith. Since his debut in May 2003, only three other bowlers in the world - Stuart Broad, Nathan Lyon and R Ashwin - have managed to take 500 or more Test wickets, let alone 700.
In his illustrious Career he has played alongside more than 100 players – he may not remember all of them but for sure, each one of them would proudly proclaim having played alongside the genial Anderson ! 12 for 106 Gus Atkinson's bowling figures at Lord's are the fourth-best by a player on debut in men's Tests. Narendra Hirwani and Bob Massie bagged 16 wickets apiece on their first outings, while England's Fred Martin took 12 for 102 against Australia in 1890 – may be Atkinson could be the guy who has replaced Anderson – but it is a long long long way – whether in the modern era of continuous varied form of Cricket, whether another Cricketer will last so long and be successful is really doubtful.
12.7.2024
No comments:
Post a Comment