London: England the Great James Anderson He turned 40 on Saturday, an age where many fast bowlers from the bygone era would have retired.
But the ‘king of swing’ has shown no signs of stopping, with Anderson still to lead England’s attack during next month’s three-Test series at home to South Africa.
The physical stress of fast bowling meant it was all considered at one time, but it was impossible for a Test ‘sharp’ to go much beyond his mid-30s.
Yet Anderson, who has already played 172 Tests and taken 657 wickets – the third highest individual tally with only two spinners behind the late Shane Warne and the long-retired Muttiah Muralitharan – seems to be getting better with age. .
He has taken 389 wickets in 101 Tests since the age of 30 and is in line to become the first player after that age to take 400 wickets.
More importantly, Anderson’s bowling average and strike rate are improving with his age.
Research compiled by the ESPNcricinfo website shows that between the ages of 25 and 29, Anderson averaged 28.47 runs per Test wicket; Between 30 and 34, it improved to 25.45; His average since turning 35 is an impressive 21.39.
In recent times, the only other outright fast bowler who has come closest to matching such a longevity is West Indies’ courtney walshowA real faster than Anderson’s effective fast-medium tempo.
Walsh had 519 wickets in a career spanning 132 Tests and was 38 when he bowled countless overs for Jamaica and Gloucestershire when he retired in 2001.
He holds the record for taking 180 wickets in 39 matches by a fast bowler over the age of 35.
But Walsh’s mark is set to fall for Anderson, who currently has 177 for 47.
Many fast bowlers have played Test cricket in their 40s and above, although the last time this happened was in Derbyshire. les jackson Made his second of two appearances in England in 1961.
The British dominate the graying test quick list George Geary and the great Maurice Tait were both playing test cricket until they turned 40 gabby allen The last of his 25 Test matches – spanning 18 years – played against the West Indies in 1948 at the age of 46.
Australian all-rounder George Kelway played his last Test in 1928 at the age of 42, West Indian Hines Johnson was 41 when he took off his shoes after just three appearances, while South African Geoff Chubb turned 40 in 1951. Retired at age. Two months after debut.
Former Lancashire and England opener became coach David Lloyd The Burnley-born bowler has watched Anderson since his early days with Red Rose County.
“Jimmy started out as Banksy in graffiti, but now he’s Rembrandt,” Lloyd wrote in his Daily Mail column.
“I think we’ve always wanted to see if the 40-year-old has lost his momentum or can he still come back strong for the third and fourth spells.
“The answer is that the pace is still pretty fast and yes, he can come back just as strong.”
Lloyd made his way into cricket in the Lancashire team, which had another outstanding England bowler in the form of Brian Statham.
Statham took 252 wickets in 70 Tests at an impressive average of 24.84 and was renowned for his uncompromising accuracy.
But his entire first-class career, which ended in 1968, when Statham was 38, took 2,260 wickets from 559 matches.
In contrast, Anderson has played only 277 first-class matches, taking 1,077 wickets.
The difference in the two sets of figures reflects a decrease in the number of domestic first-class fixtures in the intervening decades, as well as an increase in the number of Test nations.
Meanwhile, the arrival of England’s central contracts means Anderson doesn’t have to bowl hundreds of overs for Lancashire with his international commitments.
And just as Statham benefited from bowling with Fred Truman for England, Anderson has also produced a highly productive double act at Test level with Stuart Broad, a stripping 36 at the other end, who scored 552. Wickets are taken.
Controversially they both were ruled out of the West Indies tour in March, but now with Ben Stokes, they are back in the squad and ready for the challenge of the Proteas.
But the ‘king of swing’ has shown no signs of stopping, with Anderson still to lead England’s attack during next month’s three-Test series at home to South Africa.
The physical stress of fast bowling meant it was all considered at one time, but it was impossible for a Test ‘sharp’ to go much beyond his mid-30s.
Yet Anderson, who has already played 172 Tests and taken 657 wickets – the third highest individual tally with only two spinners behind the late Shane Warne and the long-retired Muttiah Muralitharan – seems to be getting better with age. .
He has taken 389 wickets in 101 Tests since the age of 30 and is in line to become the first player after that age to take 400 wickets.
More importantly, Anderson’s bowling average and strike rate are improving with his age.
Research compiled by the ESPNcricinfo website shows that between the ages of 25 and 29, Anderson averaged 28.47 runs per Test wicket; Between 30 and 34, it improved to 25.45; His average since turning 35 is an impressive 21.39.
In recent times, the only other outright fast bowler who has come closest to matching such a longevity is West Indies’ courtney walshowA real faster than Anderson’s effective fast-medium tempo.
Walsh had 519 wickets in a career spanning 132 Tests and was 38 when he bowled countless overs for Jamaica and Gloucestershire when he retired in 2001.
He holds the record for taking 180 wickets in 39 matches by a fast bowler over the age of 35.
But Walsh’s mark is set to fall for Anderson, who currently has 177 for 47.
Many fast bowlers have played Test cricket in their 40s and above, although the last time this happened was in Derbyshire. les jackson Made his second of two appearances in England in 1961.
The British dominate the graying test quick list George Geary and the great Maurice Tait were both playing test cricket until they turned 40 gabby allen The last of his 25 Test matches – spanning 18 years – played against the West Indies in 1948 at the age of 46.
Australian all-rounder George Kelway played his last Test in 1928 at the age of 42, West Indian Hines Johnson was 41 when he took off his shoes after just three appearances, while South African Geoff Chubb turned 40 in 1951. Retired at age. Two months after debut.
Former Lancashire and England opener became coach David Lloyd The Burnley-born bowler has watched Anderson since his early days with Red Rose County.
“Jimmy started out as Banksy in graffiti, but now he’s Rembrandt,” Lloyd wrote in his Daily Mail column.
“I think we’ve always wanted to see if the 40-year-old has lost his momentum or can he still come back strong for the third and fourth spells.
“The answer is that the pace is still pretty fast and yes, he can come back just as strong.”
Lloyd made his way into cricket in the Lancashire team, which had another outstanding England bowler in the form of Brian Statham.
Statham took 252 wickets in 70 Tests at an impressive average of 24.84 and was renowned for his uncompromising accuracy.
But his entire first-class career, which ended in 1968, when Statham was 38, took 2,260 wickets from 559 matches.
In contrast, Anderson has played only 277 first-class matches, taking 1,077 wickets.
The difference in the two sets of figures reflects a decrease in the number of domestic first-class fixtures in the intervening decades, as well as an increase in the number of Test nations.
Meanwhile, the arrival of England’s central contracts means Anderson doesn’t have to bowl hundreds of overs for Lancashire with his international commitments.
And just as Statham benefited from bowling with Fred Truman for England, Anderson has also produced a highly productive double act at Test level with Stuart Broad, a stripping 36 at the other end, who scored 552. Wickets are taken.
Controversially they both were ruled out of the West Indies tour in March, but now with Ben Stokes, they are back in the squad and ready for the challenge of the Proteas.