James Anderson admits he was ‘gutted’ he dropped a catch to take the final wicket as England thrashed West Indies in his last Test and also wishes he got the chance to bat at Lord’s.
England’s emphatic innings-and-33-run victory over West Indies – which was sealed on the morning of day three – was Anderson’s 188th and final Test match.
The 41-year-old dismissed the Windies No. 11 in the first innings before picking up three wickets in the second to finish a remarkable career on 704 wickets – the third-most in history and just four behind Australia legend Shane Warne.
Anderson was ‘overwhelmed’ and ’emotional’ by the reception he received at Lord’s as English cricket paid tribute to their greatest ever bowler and an all-time great of the game.
‘It has been an amazing week,’ Anderson said. ‘I have been overwhelmed by the reaction. I am just proud of what I have achieved.
‘I’ve been a bit overwhelmed all week actually. Walking to the ground, taking to the field. The crowd, the players. It has been amazing. It feels really special.
‘It is special to win and to contribute as well. I’m happy I got a couple of top-order batters out in the second innings.
‘This morning was quite emotional with the two teams and the reaction of the crowd. I am still trying to hold them [the tears] back.
‘I am just really proud. Playing for 20 years is an incredible effort. I am happy I have made it this far and stayed injury free.
‘Playing for England is the best job in the world so I am lucky to have been able to do it for a long time.’
Anderson had the chance to seal England’s victory and add another scalp to his tally but he dropped a simple catch off his own bowling before debutant Gus Atkinson took the final wicket – his fifth of the innings and 12th of the match.
‘I am still gutted I dropped that catch,’ Anderson said. ‘It would have been nice.
‘I should have got two hands to it. It was an awkward height and didn’t stick. But I’m just happy we got the win.
‘I am also buzzing for Gus. He has been around the group for a while now. He has worked really hard and to see him go out there and perform like that is amazing.’
Lord’s gave Anderson a standing ovation when he came out to bat on day two but he was only out there for four balls and did not face a delivery, another debutant Jamie Smith caught for 70 to end England’s innings of 371.
‘It was incredible,’ Anderson said. ‘Even walking out to bat. I am gutted I didn’t get to play one more reverse-sweep.
‘It has been overwhelming to see the reaction of people this week. I didn’t expect it. You don’t think you deserve it as a player, so it has been incredible.’
Anderson will stay with the England team for the rest of the summer, aiding the new crop of bowlers as they play two more Tests against West Indies and then three against Sri Lanka.
Asked about his future plans and the possibility of continuing in county cricket for Lancashire, the veteran said: ‘Can I enjoy my pint first?
‘I have not thought that far ahead. I will stick ahead for the summer to try help the bowling group as much as I can. We will see where life takes us.’
England thrash West Indies at Lord’s
England took control of the first Test of the summer in the second session of day one.
West Indies moved tentatively to 61-3 at lunch – Atkinson striking with the second ball of his Test career and again two overs later before Ben Stokes got in on the act – but collapsed in a heap after the interval.
Surrey’s Atkinson finished with sensational figures of 7-45 – the second best from an England player on debut – as the Windies posted just 121.
Zak Crawley, Joe Root, Ollie Pope, Harry Brook and Smith then all hit fifties as England made 371 to secure a first-innings lead of 250.
West Indies’ struggles with the bat continued in the second innings as they were bowled out for 136, only spinner Gudakesh Motie reaching 30.
Ben Stokes hails dominant England display
Stokes admitted he could not have asked for a better start to the Test summer after England dominated West Indies.
They will look to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series when the second Test starts on Thursday at Trent Bridge. Edgbaston hosts the final Test.
‘A really good start,’ Stokes said. ‘It has been a long time in between games let alone series so to put in a performance like that it is very clinical, batting, bowling and in particular in the field.
‘I don’t think we could start the Test summer with a better performance as a team.
‘Before the game starts it is always amazing seeing two young lads with a boat load of talent receive those caps.
‘For them to go on and put performances in like they did is very pleasing. They are two guys with a very high ceiling. The future for those two is looking very good.’
On Atkinson’s performance, Stokes added: ‘I don’t want to earmark him as someone with out-and-out pace. He is incredibly skilful too.
‘He has taken 12 wickets on debut at Lord’s. We have seen a lot of potential in him going back to the 50-over World Cup. It is very exciting.’
Windies ‘didn’t come to the party’
West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite was ‘disappointed’ by his team’s performance at Lord’s and urged them to respond in the second Test.
‘We disappointed ourselves with the bat,’ he said. ‘We didn’t come to the party at all in both innings. With the ball we could be better but a positive is we bowled them out.
‘We have a lot of ability and talent. This is the world stage. I believe in the guys. For them it is just to stay mentally strong. After defeat there is pressure, yes, but you have to be strong mentally.
‘We lost the first Test [in Australia] and came back and showed some fight. We have got to stay mentally tough and fight hard.’
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