In his first competitive First-Class game since England’s Test series defeat against India in March, Jimmy Anderson sparkled with a six-wicket opening spell for Lancashire in their County Championship match against Nottinghamshire in Southport on Tuesday.
Bowling on day three of the County Division 1 match, Anderson opened the attack and razed down the Nottingham top-order to impose Lancashire’s daunting first-innings total of 353/9 on the opposition.
Anderson’s wicket spree began in his third over as he cleaned up Nottingham skipper Haseeb Hameed for 10. In four subsequent overs, Anderson dislodged New Zealand batter Will Young, wicket-keeper Joe Clarke, Jack Haynes and Lyndon James. He added his sixth wicket in as many overs when he dismissed Liam Patterson-White for four, reducing Nottingham to 40 for six in 17 overs. Anderson eventually completed an opening spell of 10 overs (10-2-19-6), going wicketless for the first time in seven overs.
Six wickets in James Anderson’s first spell in four months.
He’s pretty good, isn’t he? pic.twitter.com/ok4Q0X8KCu
— Vitality County Championship (@CountyChamp) July 2, 2024
The veteran seamer raised his First-Class wickets to 1120 with his 55th five-for as he continued to build up for his farewell Test for England, starting July 10 at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in London against West Indies.
Anderson finished England’s underwhelming Test tour to India in February-March with 10 wickets in four outings. It was the 41-year-old’s first series since last year’s home Ashes last July.
Anderson’s final wicket in the Dharamsala Test propelled him to 700 Test wickets, making him the first pacer to reach the feat and only the third bowler overall, behind Shane Warne (700) and Muttiah Muralidaran (800).
On May 12, 2024, Anderson announced that he will retire from international cricket after the Lord’s Test against West Indies. “Just a note to say that the first Test of the summer at Lord’s will be my last Test. It’s been an incredible 20 years representing my country, playing the game I’ve loved since I was a kid. I’m going to miss walking out for England so much. But I know the time is right to step aside and let others realise their dreams just like I got to, because there is no greater feeling,” Anderson had shared in an Instagram post.
Earlier this week, ECB managing director Rob Key revealed that Anderson will continue with the England squad as a bowling mentor and could also be in line for a permanent role thereafter. Anderson will be representing England in his 188th Test during his farewell, only bettered by Sachin Tendulkar who had appeared in 200 Tests for India.
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