Ben Stokes Pays Tribute to James Anderson as He Retires from Cricket
England Test captain Ben Stokes made an emotional tribute to James Anderson, who retired from international cricket after decades of dominance. Although Anderson missed a chance to end his career on a high note, his achievements were celebrated at Lord’s.
In his final Test against West Indies, Anderson had figures of 1/26 and 3/32. Stokes praised the 41-year-old for his continuous improvement and dedication since his debut in 2003. Stokes said, “Sometimes you can be a bit lost for words, and if you gave me 15 minutes, I still wouldn’t be able to compliment him enough. He is 41 years old and still always looking to improve himself as a bowler.”
Debutant Gus Atkinson, who took seven wickets in the first innings, also expressed his admiration for Anderson. Atkinson said, “Growing up, Jimmy was someone I’d come here to Lord’s and watch, and standing at mid-off I was looking at Jimmy running in thinking I’d seen that so many times on the TV, so it was amazing.”
Anderson retired with 704 Test wickets, placing him behind only Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne in the all-time list.
