England’s first Test match of the summer will also be the last for their greatest ever bowler, as English cricket prepares to say farewell to James Anderson.
It was at Lord’s that Anderson made his debut more than 20 years ago and it has continued to be a ground where he has excelled throughout his illustrious career, making it a fitting venue to bring the curtain down with a few more records in sight.
Lord Of The Manor
Anderson is the master of English conditions with 434 of his 700 wickets coming on home soil at an average of 4.13 wickets per match, compared to 266 overseas at an average of 3.24.
That record gets even better at Lord’s where he has taken 119 wickets in 28 matches – 17% of his overall total and 46 more than Trent Bridge, his next-best venue.
Back where it all began, Anderson is 7/1 to be named as Player of the Match, 33/1 to claim a first Test hat-trick and 50/1 to take a wicket with the first ball of the game (something he achieved in 2019 and remains one of only four Englishmen to do so).
His most potent method of dismissal across his career has been caught fielder (39%). However, that all changes on the home of cricket’s infamous slope, where 34% of his wickets at Lord’s have been bowled (compared to 19% overall).
With that in mind, Anderson is 6/1 to dismiss three or more batters bowled, 14/1 to dismiss four or more batters bowled and 40/1 to dismiss five or more batters bowled.
Other Records That Could Tumble
Anderson overtook Glenn McGrath as Test cricket’s greatest ever seam bowler back in 2018 and, with 700 wickets to his name, is currently third in the all-time list behind spin kings Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne.
Murali is way out in front of 800, but Warne is still catchable on 708. Anderson is 3/1 to take at least eight wickets in the match to tie with the Aussie great and 5/1 to surpass him with nine or more.
There is also another, less illustrious, record he could steal from his old bowling partner Stuart Broad, who currently holds the record for most golden ducks in Tests for England with 10 – one more than Anderson.
Anderson is 10/1 to match that tally and 100/1 to surpass it by getting a king pair.
James Anderson Specials In His Final Test Match:
General:
- Anderson to get player of the match 7/1
- Anderson to take a hat-trick 33/1
- Anderson to take a wicket with the first ball of the Test 50/1
Bowled Dismissals:
- Anderson to dismiss 3 or more batters bowled 6/1
- Anderson to dismiss 4 or more batters bowled 14/1
- Anderson to dismiss 5 or more batters bowled 40/1
All-Time Wickets List:
- Anderson to take at least 8 wickets in the match (and tie with Warne) 3/1
- Anderson to take at least 9 wickets in the match (and surpass Warne) 5/1
Golden Ducks:
- Anderson to get a golden duck (and tie with Broad’s English record) 10/1
- Anderson to get two golden ducks (and surpass Broad’s record) 100/1
