England Test captain Ben Stokes paid a fitting tribute to James Anderson as the legendary fast bowler brought down the curtain on his international cricket career. Having made his debut for England way back in 2003, Anderson ended his remarkable legacy. His final Test at Lord’s wasn’t one of simple farewell; rather, it was one of a juncture rejoicing at a career full of various accomplishments.
At the post-match press conference, Ben Stokes expressed his emotions about James Anderson. He said that even if someone gave him fifteen minutes, he would still be quite short of words in complimenting the career of the fast bowler. He went on to say how inspiring it was when Anderson, at the age of 41, was still working on his skills as a bowler.
A Perfect Goodbye, Missed Opportunities
It did not have a storybook ending for Anderson, as he had come close to taking the last wicket in his farewell Test off West Indies spinner Gudakesh Motie. The ball deflected back to Anderson, but he spilled it. Save for that minor unfortunate moment, though, Anderson showed very impressive resolve in his farewell game.
Ben Stokes confessed that he was unable to stop praising Anderson for the fact that the latter had not dipped an inch throughout his career.
He said:
Sometimes you can be a bit lost for words
He pointed out that the player had not only maintained but, in fact, improved his performance over the years.
He’s always wanted to contribute to the team and every single time he’s walked out onto the field, he’s done that. If you gave me 15 minutes, I still wouldn’t be able to compliment him enough.
The retirement of James Anderson brought sharp focus to one debutant named Gus Atkinson, who may be very important for the future pace of England. Atkinson had a stunning start in the form of seven wickets in the first innings of the match. All was expected by Stokes and other teammates from Atkinson to keep the bar of excellent performance set by Anderson.
Atkinson’s Admiration for Anderson
Gus Atkinson poured his heart out on the very occasion that he got to play with James Anderson. He had seen Anderson playing at Lord’s as a young boy. “It’s been an amazing week. I just want to say thanks to Jimmy,” Atkinson commented. He mentioned how he used to sit in the stands and watch Anderson on the field and now plays with him.
He said he had always been in awe of Anderson’s elegant bowling action and his class. Atkinson added:
Growing up, Jimmy was someone I’d come here to Lord’s and watch.
Needless to say, to be part of Jimmy Anderson’s final Test match and witness the magic of his play up close was something special for Atkinson.
The tribute that Stokes paid and the reflections that Atkinson made underlined how much regard James Anderson had come to inspire naturally among contemporaries and the next generation of cricketers. His career was purposeful, really legendary, and epitomized dedication and single-minded commitment to cricket. Therefore, his swansong was an occasion to celebrate his contribution to the game.
Now that James Anderson has retired, the cricket world gazes at a prospective future. While Anderson’s retirement brought an end to an era, he did so having built a legacy that surely will impassion people into cricket like Gus Atkinson. He will be remembered by the game for the great deeds and standards of excellence he set in fast bowling.
