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Xtra Time Web Desk: There is romanticism in Anderson’s debut venue and fittingly for his last - Lord’s. While the Mecca of cricket hasn’t treated two of its most celebrated servants - Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara - kindly, Anderson has reaped benefits on the hallowed ground. Of his 700 career Test wickets, 119 have come at this venue alone, or 17 percent, with the majority while darting down the Pavilion End. His name appears on the honours board seven times, including after achieving career-best figures of 7/42 against the West Indies in 2017. The first of those wickets took him to 500 career dismissals.

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Sitting on 700 Test wickets, there is a target in sight and given his exploits over the last two decades and at the venue, it would be fair expectations. Shane Warne’s tally of 708 wickets can be surpassed with chances of overcast conditions and returns of eight scalps in the latest outing. For those in attendance for the first Test between England and the West Indies, it will be an opportunity to bid goodbye to one of the best fast bowlers the game has produced. There have been legendary seamers in cricket history with literal body-breaking abilities but maybe none have been so lethal with the swinging deliveries as Anderson has.

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A post shared by Sachin Tendulkar (@sachintendulkar)

Hailed by the likes of probably the greatest batter of all time and his biggest challenge he ever faced, one and only Sachin Tendulkar said, "You’ve bowled the fans over with that incredible 22-year spell. Here’s a little wish as you bid goodbye. It has been a joy to watch you bowl - with that action, speed, accuracy, swing and fitness. You’ve inspired generations with your game. Wish you a wonderful life ahead with good health and happiness as you put those new shoes on for the most important spell of your life - the time with family."

"I've seen him smile more today than I have done for the last 20 odd years" ????

Stuart Broad on the emotions that James Anderson will be feeling ahead of his retirement ???????????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/Pq0beri75F

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 12, 2024

And his partner in crime Stuart Broad said, "There will be a lot of emotion there, for sure. I think, especially when you see a lot of friends here, a lot of family and supporters that have been with you for a long period of time. You know, there definitely will be that feeling of when he's walking into the changing room like this is the last time I'm going to do this when you put your boots on, this is the last time I'm going to do this in an England shirt and, you know, I think that's actually a really nice feeling. I think it's a lovely feeling when you do put on that shirt and you just soak everything in."

A well-earned applause for one of England's finest, @jimmy9, as he came out to bat ???? #SonySportsNetwork #ENGvWI #JamesAnderson pic.twitter.com/l8mpRzgbDy

— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) July 11, 2024

His ability to swing the ball, both conventional and reverse, is what set him apart and will remain an everlasting memory. His skill in exploiting even the slightest movement in the air, the wrist position, seam control, and ability to consistently hit the right areas made him a nightmare to deal with. Wicket on his international debut (in an ODI). Fifer on his Test debut. The early performances showcased his potential and hinted at the illustrious career that lay ahead.

The Lancashire bowler didn’t just shine at home. He was hard to work with in England’s overcast conditions and on the flat decks of the sub-continent. He played 105 Tests at home and took 434 wickets (4 wickets per match). His returns from 32 matches in Asia reaped 92 wickets (nearly 3 wickets per Test). In a sport where fast bowlers often succumb to injuries and shortened careers, Anderson has defied the odds. His fitness regimen, adaptability, and constant evolution as a bowler have allowed him to remain at the top of his game well into his late 30s and early 40s. Anderson has been a mainstay in the England setup and his longevity is one of the highlights. With the 188th Test to be his last, only Sachin Tendulkar played more (200).

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“Playing my 188th Test at just short of 42 years old, makes me the most proud and I’m still pushing myself to be the best I possibly can,” he said.

He played under eight different England captains - Nasser Hussain, Michael Vaughan, Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff, Alastair Cook, Joe Root and now Ben Stokes. Shoaib Bashir and Rehan Ahmed, his teammates from the Test vs India earlier in the year, weren’t even born when Anderson made his debut! In the long list of Test dismissals and Anderson’s ‘bunnies’ feature Tendulkar, Azhar Ali, Jacques Kallis, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Kumar Sangakkara, and MS Dhoni who have all long retired from the longest format and the game itself. Maybe, for some of the casual watchers of the game, his legacy is not in the number of wickets he took and the longevity but in the way he embraced Test cricket rather than “chasing the dollar” with the advent of T20 leagues galore.

His commitment to the Test format in an era increasingly dominated by shorter forms of the game has been admirable. Anderson’s passion for Test cricket and belief in its importance have helped maintain its relevance and appeal. Looking ahead, Anderson’s influence on cricket is likely to extend beyond his playing days. His knowledge of the art of fast bowling and his experience at the highest level make him a valuable asset for future generations. Whether as a coach, commentator, or mentor, Anderson’s insights will continue to shape the game.

“I feel so lucky to have played for as long as I have. It feels really special that I get to play for England one more time,” said Anderson.