Veteran seamer James Anderson bids adieu to a legendary Test career spanning 188 Test matches and more than two decades, ending on a high note as England defeated West Indies by an innings and 114 runs on Friday. The 41-year-old took the first wicket of the day at Lord’s, dismissing Joshua Da Silva and effectively sealing West Indies’ fate.
As Anderson showcased his skills one final time, debutant Gus Atkinson etched his name onto the Lord’s honours board with a ten-wicket haul, symbolizing the passing of the torch.
Earlier, England had secured a substantial first-innings lead, with five batters crossing the half-century mark to reach a total of 371. Atkinson’s seven-wicket haul had helped bowl West Indies out for 121 on day one of the Test match. With a 250-run lead, England’s seamers fired away on day two, reducing West Indies to six wickets down by stumps. Anderson set the tone with a peach that seamed back to dismiss Kraigg Brathwaite.
Anderson finishes his career with 704 Test wickets, just four behind the late Shane Warne, making him the highest wicket-taker among fast bowlers in the history of the game. It might well have been 705 had Anderson held onto a return catch from Gudakesh Motie in the 44th over with West Indies nine down.
This victory marks England’s fourth win in the current ICC World Test Championship cycle, placing them with 33 points and a points percentage of 25%. They are level on points percentage with South Africa and Bangladesh in the bottom half of the WTC 2023-25 standings. England had lost 19 points for slow over-rates during the five-match Ashes series, significantly impacting their chances of making the final next year.
