Great article on a great fast bowler. On a tour of Lords in 2024 we were told that Anderson always sat next to the Captain (moves with the Captain) in the English dressing room. Interesting.
A bowler whose skills were to be feared; i always felt nervous, even when he was bowling against the run of play. And the cussedness was rather welcome, even endearing. Excellent piece, many thanks.
It’s a nice thing when an Australian cricket writer can give an English cricketer such a warm, fair and balanced appraisal at career’s end. For all his achievements, I doubt that Jimmy would be warmly remembered by many Australians. Too grumpy, only bowled well in England, a bit of a mouth, can’t bat would be how many would sum him up, which would be sad (and wrong), because it is no way to appreciate a man, even a pom, with 700 Test wickets under his belt. Anderson is the greatest swing bowler in history, and that is how he should be remembered. I’d like to think a few English writers, certainly Michael Atherton, would have given Shane Warne a glowing endorsement when the great leggie retired so, thank you Gideon for giving us such a fair-minded summary (you might have to do another one if he takes 9 wickets in his last test).
Great article on a great fast bowler. On a tour of Lords in 2024 we were told that Anderson always sat next to the Captain (moves with the Captain) in the English dressing room. Interesting.
A bowler whose skills were to be feared; i always felt nervous, even when he was bowling against the run of play. And the cussedness was rather welcome, even endearing. Excellent piece, many thanks.
It’s a nice thing when an Australian cricket writer can give an English cricketer such a warm, fair and balanced appraisal at career’s end. For all his achievements, I doubt that Jimmy would be warmly remembered by many Australians. Too grumpy, only bowled well in England, a bit of a mouth, can’t bat would be how many would sum him up, which would be sad (and wrong), because it is no way to appreciate a man, even a pom, with 700 Test wickets under his belt. Anderson is the greatest swing bowler in history, and that is how he should be remembered. I’d like to think a few English writers, certainly Michael Atherton, would have given Shane Warne a glowing endorsement when the great leggie retired so, thank you Gideon for giving us such a fair-minded summary (you might have to do another one if he takes 9 wickets in his last test).
I'd love nothing more, Greg. Good luck Jimmy.