James Anderson Retires on a High as England Defeats West Indies in First Test at Lord’s
Veteran fast-bowler James Anderson bid farewell to international cricket with a resounding victory as England thrashed the West Indies by an innings and 114 runs on Day 3 of the first Test at the iconic Lord’s on Friday. Anderson, playing in his 188th and final Test, concluded his illustrious career with a remarkable tally of 704 wickets, making him the highest wicket-taking fast bowler in Test history and placing him just four wickets behind the legendary Shane Warne.
The match also witnessed a sensational debut by pacer Gus Atkinson, who finished with impressive match figures of 12-106, helping England secure a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series. Anderson narrowly missed adding a 705th wicket to his record when he dropped a return catch from Gudakesh Motie in the 44th over, with the West Indies down to their last wicket.
As a tribute to his extraordinary career, Anderson was honored with a guard of honour from both teams before the West Indies resumed their innings at 79-6, trailing by 171 runs. Anderson then set the tone for England’s dominant win by having Joshua Da Silva (9) nicking behind.
Atkinson continued the onslaught by dismissing Alzarri Joseph (8) with a bouncer, bowling out Shamar Joseph (3), and having Jayden Seales (8) caught at deep square-leg, ending with figures of 5-61. This marked the conclusion of Anderson’s 21-year Test career and England’s emphatic victory.
Following the match, Anderson received another guard of honour from both England and West Indies players, celebrating his significant contributions to the sport. Anderson will now transition to a mentoring role, focusing on nurturing England’s fast-bowling talent for the remainder of the Test summer.
This victory at Lord’s marks England’s fourth win in the current ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle, bringing their total to 33 points and a points percentage of 25%. England shares this points percentage with South Africa and Bangladesh in the lower half of the standings.
Brief scores:
England: 371 (Zak Crawley 76; Jayden Seales 4-77)
West Indies: 121 & 136 in 47 overs (Gus Atkinson 5-61, James Anderson 3-32)
Result: England won by an innings and 114 runs
Anderson’s retirement on a victorious note not only highlights his exceptional career but also signifies a new chapter for England’s cricket, with promising talents like Atkinson stepping up.
