He said all he wanted to do was contribute to a win. James Anderson got his wish, though the Lord’s crowd were denied the fairytale five-for that seemed there for the taking at the start of day three. James Anderson 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.
As James Anderson took his final bow, the centre stage was claimed by his latest successor. Gus Atkinson ripped out three more wickets to finish a brilliant first outing with match figures of 12 for 106 – the best by an Englishman on Test debut since 1890. Atkinson’s sheepish grin was perhaps partly in recognition that he had denied James Anderson the chance to bookend his extraordinary Test career with twin appearances on the Lord’s honours board, but his ruthlessness was to be applauded as he blew through the West Indies tail.
Day 3 Morning Session : Debutant Atkinson delivers comprehensive win in James Anderson’s swansong
An unforgettable debut and a memorable farewell headlined England’s comprehensive victory by an innings and 114 runs in the first Test against West Indies at Lord’s, in a Test match that bridged generations and marked the symbolic passing of the baton.
Gus Atkinson, with match figures of 12 for 106, became the first bowler to bag 10 wickets on debut at Lord’s since 1972, and his bowling performance was the second best for England on debut after Frederick Martin’s 12 for 102 in 1972 against Australia. James Anderson’s swansong ended with figures of 3-32 in the second innings as he finished his Test career as the third leading wicket-taker with 704.
It was also a Test match that confirmed Ben Stokes’s return to full bowling fitness as the England captain bowled 18 overs across two innings, picking up three wickets. This included eight overs at one go in the first innings and 10 overs on the trot in the second.
Having been reduced to 79/6 at stumps on Day 2, with still 171 runs in deficit, West Indies’ lower order couldn’t offer much of a resistance, getting bowled out for 136 in their second essay. James Anderson delivered the first strike of the day, getting Joshua Da Silva to edge to the ‘keeper with a typical delivery that angled in and shaped away. Atkinson got Alzarri Joseph on the hook to pick up his third wicket of the innings and the 26-year old debutant then had Shamar Joseph bowled with a yorker for his 11th wicket of the match.
The old warhorse Anderson had a chance to sign off with a four-fer but missed a simple catch off his own bowling when Gudakesh Motie chipped the ball back to him. Motie then struck a few fours off Atkinson, two of them off edges, while Jayden Seales played an off-drive for a four off Anderson.
Seales, attempting a pull, handed a catch in the deep as Atkinson finished with five in the second innings in what was a dream debut for the Surrey pacer. His two fifers on debut was the first instance for an England bowler since 1934, and the first by any pacer in Test cricket since 1972.
And then the focus immediately shifted to James Anderson as he received hugs from his team-mates and the coach, and was greeted by the West Indian players, as he led the team off the field for the last time.
The platform for England’s victory was set up on the opening day after Stokes opted to bowl, with Atkinson running through the West Indies batting order to bowl them out for 121. Atkinson became the seventh Englishman to pick up seven in an innings on debut – his 7/45 only bettered by Dominic Cork’s 7/43 against West Indies at the Lord’s back in 1995.
England then came up with a collective batting show, with as many as five half-centurions in their innings. Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope struck fifties and put on a brisk 94-run stand for the second wicket, following which Harry Brook and Joe Root scored contrasting fifties and added 91 for the fourth wicket. Jamie Smith, the Surrey wicketkeeper-batter and another debutant for England, batted well with the lower middle order as his 70 helped England finish with 371, gaining a first-innings lead of 250.
The ever reliable Anderson and Stokes combined to leave West Indies in a disarray in the second innings before the veteran joined forces with Atkinson for the finishing touches to England’s dominating performance as they ended the match inside the first session on the third day.
James Anderson bows out with 704 as Gus Atkinson’s 12 helps England rout WI on day three
James Anderson even missed the opportunity to finish the match with a catch off his own bowling, dropping a chance dollied back to him by the No. 9, Gudakesh Motie. The moment drew gasps and groans, though Anderson could smile as he sank to his knees mid-pitch, the ball having rebounded out of his grasp as he went for it one-handed. Unlike his longtime new-ball partner, Stuart Broad, the Hollywood ending was not to be.
Anderson was phlegmatic when interviewed on Sky Sports at the close, cradling a pint of Guinness in the changing room: “I’m gutted I dropped that catch, to be honest. It’s been an amazing week, I’ve been quite overwhelmed with the reaction, proud of what I’ve achieved.”
Motie finished as West Indies’ top-scorer across either innings, throwing the bat around for 31 not out. The fact that neither batting effort from the visitors lasted more than 47 overs underlined that gulf between the sides, West Indies unable to live in particular with Atkinson’s pace and accuracy. The Surrey man completed his second five-for of the match with the final wicket to fall, as Jayden Seales holed out to deep midwicket.
As he took the field for the final time as a Test cricketer, 7722 days on from his debut against Zimbabwe, Anderson had to endure further ceremony – this time a guard of honor formed by players on both sides. The skies above were grey but there was a hint of a smile as he doffed his cap in appreciation of the crowd’s applause.
He claimed the first wicket of the morning with his seventh ball, a classic Anderson delivery nipping away on fourth stump to kiss Joshua Da Silva’s outside edge. With three West Indies wickets still standing, Anderson was two away from concluding his storied career with a 33rd five-wicket haul – only for Atkinson to seize the moment, much as he had on day one when he swept up seven in his first Test bowl.
Alzarri Joseph was next to go, having twice changed his bat in an attempt to out-bomb Atkinson in their short-ball contest – whatever size the stick, he could not clear deep backward square leg, giving Atkinson his ten-wicket haul.
Motie resolved not to die poking and prodding at Anderson, clumping him for a boundary down the ground, before Atkinson shelved any notion of sentimentality by detonating Shamar Joseph’s off stump with a searing yorker. Anderson had his chance to bring down the curtain himself – but then, as he has hinted this week, perhaps he just wasn’t ready to go. Atkinson then bounced out Seales, leaving Anderson looking as pleased as he ever has during his 188 Tests for England.
Hugs and pat on the back from the England players to James Anderson as he draws curtains on his outstanding 21-year old Test career. West Indies players too congratulate him and now he gets to lead England off the field for one final time. The West Indies come out on the field to greet and congratulate Anderson.
England coach Brendon McCullum gives him a warm long hug and Anderson just quietly disappears into the Long Room and out of international cricket. The replay of that catch shows Anderson keenly following the ball and the catch is taken he lets out a lovely smile and claps for his teammate as the game ends.
A fast bowler who’s played 21 years. A fast bowler who’s remained this fit even at 41. A fast bowler who in the day of money-luring global franchise leagues chose to be a purist. A fast bowler who despite playing only one format has stayed so relevant and potent for all these years. A fast bowler who realised swing isn’t the only way to win and mastered scrambled seam bowling midway through his career and adapted. A fast bowler who strategically played mind games with batters.
A fast bowler on whom oppositions had to discuss at length in their team meetings. A fast bowler who quietly did his job and went off without hogging the limelight. A fast bowler who is aggressive yet nice on the outside. A fast bowler who finished with 704 Test wickets. A fast bowler like never before.
James Michael Anderson – thank you for beautifying Test cricket with your swing-seam. Thank you for getting us glued to our seats while setting up batters. Thank you for your commitment to Test cricket and carrying the flag high. Thank you for your time. The Burnley Express has been shunted to the yard and retired!