James Michael Anderson is an English professional cricketer who was born on July 30, 1982. He is currently the vice captain of the English Test team and is widely regarded as one of the best Test bowlers in the world.
Background
Anderson began playing cricket at a young age with Burnley Cricket Club. He was one of the fastest bowlers in the Lancashire League at the age of 17.
He took 50 wickets in just 13 games for Lancashire in his debut season in 2002. In 2003, he became the county’s first player to score a hat-trick. The young man continued to develop his groove and established himself as a reliable performer for his domestic side. Anderson’s first ten-wicket haul came against Worcestershire in 2004.
Debut
Anderson was given his ODI debut against Australia on December 15, 2002, after national selectors found it difficult to keep him out of the senior team. He had a poor outing, conceding 46 runs in only six overs and taking just one wicket.
The Australians went on to lead by 89 runs. In Adelaide, he followed that up with a 10-over spell that cost just 12 runs. The pacer was steadily finding his stride. Anderson was, however, more of a red ball bowler than a limited overs bowler over the years.
Rise to Glory
Anderson’s finest performance was in the Ashes in 2010, when he took 24 wickets. His traditional side-on movement helps him generate reverse swing. His signature delivery was pitching the ball on the middle and leg stump lines and allowing it to touch the off stump.
Anderson made headlines in 2016 when he became the first fast bowler to take 50 wickets against all seven major Test-playing nations, showing his domination at the highest level. Anderson became the first England bowler and third pacer to take 500 test wickets on September 8, 2017. To hit the landmark, he dismissed West Indies’ Kraigg Brathwaite.
In 2012, Anderson was named England’s Cricketer of the Year. He also holds the record for the most no-balls in test cricket. His number of 65 not outs is the most in the game’s longest format.
Low Points
Anderson had a number of problems with his bowling motion. He had lost his shape, rhythm, and confidence in 2004 and 2005. Coaches attempted but failed to change his conduct. Only when he switched back to his old action with small improvements did he recover his form.
The England pacer is unquestionably one of the game’s legends. There’s no reason to forget James Anderson in a swinging scenario. He will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the best bowlers of all time.