James Anderson

James Michael Anderson is a professional cricketer from England born on the 30th of July, 1982. Currently the vice-captain of the English Test team, he is considered to be one of the top Test bowlers in the world at present.

Background

Anderson started playing cricket at Burnley Cricket Club at a very tender age. At the age of 17, he was one of the fastest bowlers in the Lancashire League.

In his debut season for Lancashire in 2002, he took 50 wickets in just 13 games. In 2003, he became the youngest player to take a hat-trick for his county. The young man kept building up his rhythm and became a consistent performer for his domestic side. Anderson recorded his maiden ten wicket haul against Worcestershire back in 2004.

Debut

The national selectors found it hard to keep Anderson away from the senior team and thus he was handed his ODI debut on the 15th of December 2002 against Australia. He did not have a good outing as he conceded 46 runs in just six overs with a solitary wicket

The Aussies went on to win the game by 89 runs. The was followed by a 10-over spell costing just 12 runs in Adelaide. The pacer was slowly getting into his groove. However, over the years, Anderson was considered more of a red ball bowler than a limited overs bowler.

Rise to Glory

Anderson’s best moment came in 2010 in the Ashes where he took 24 wickets. His classic side-on action assists him in generating reverse swing. Pitching the ball on middle and leg stump line and getting it to hit the off stump became his trademark delivery.

In 2016, Anderson became the first fast bowler to take 50 wickets against all other seven major Test playing nations, further demonstrating his dominance at the highest level. On the 8th of September, 2017, Anderson became the first England bowler and third pacer to take 500 test wickets. He dismissed Kraigg Brathwaite of West Indies to reach the milestone.

Anderson was named England Cricketer of the Year in 2012. Interestingly, he also holds the record for most not outs in test cricket. His tally of 65 not outs is the highest in the longest format of the game.

Low Points

Anderson had faced a lot of issues over his bowling action. In 2004 and 2005, he had lost his form, rhythm and confidence. Coaches tried to alter his action but did not succeed. He regained his form only when he switched back to his old action with minor changes.

The England pacer is surely one of the legends of the game. In swinging conditions, there is no need to look past James Anderson. He would surely go down as one of the greatest bowlers to have ever played the game.