London, July 26, 2023: England’s James Anderson receives high praise from teammate and skipper Ben Stokes, who hails the veteran pacer as the greatest fast bowler in the history of Test cricket. With an illustrious career spanning over 20 years and 689 wickets from 182 Test matches, Anderson’s achievements are unparalleled in the game.
As England gears up for the fifth and final Ashes Test, all eyes are on James Anderson, the leading wicket-taker in Test cricket. Despite having a relatively subdued performance in the current Ashes series, claiming only four wickets in three matches, the 39-year-old fast bowler has been retained in the playing XI for the decisive encounter.
Stokes didn’t shy away from expressing his admiration for his long-time teammate, stating, “James Anderson is the greatest fast bowler to play the game.” The England skipper emphasized Anderson’s consistency and longevity, attributing his success to remarkable skill and dedication.
When asked to compare Anderson with other legends of the game such as Dale Steyn, Curtly Ambrose, and Glenn McGrath, Stokes acknowledged that while he faced Dale Steyn, Anderson’s impressive record of nearly 700 Test wickets worldwide speaks for itself. The skipper believes Anderson’s performances over the years have firmly established him as the greatest in the fast bowling domain.
Joining Anderson in the playing XI for the final Test is his pace partner, Stuart Broad. Broad, who recently became the second pacer to pick 600 Test wickets, has been instrumental in the ongoing Ashes series, leading the wicket-taking charts with 18 scalps. Stokes praised Broad’s exceptional contributions throughout his career, noting his ability to change the game and deliver crucial performances for the team.
Stokes also acknowledged the challenge of managing workload and praised Broad’s resilience, saying, “Being the leading wicket-taker, it’s very hard to look past someone like that. At 37 years old, it’s a testament to how much work he puts in off the field to keep playing for England.”
With the final Ashes Test set to kick off at The Oval on Thursday, July 27, cricket fans around the world eagerly await another opportunity to witness the brilliance of James Anderson and Stuart Broad. As these two exceptional bowlers continue to etch their names in cricketing history, their presence remains invaluable to the England cricket team.
