Oh Jimmy! Jimmy Jimmy Anderson!
Jimmy Anderson has secured his name among the greats in English cricket after become England’s most prolific wicket taker, but don’t be fooled in to thinking he’s slowing down, in his last game vs. Sri Lanka Jimmy once again led the England attack and took 10 wickets in the match.
I’ve never seen a bowler look more dangerous in any game of cricket than Jimmy did against Pakistan in 2010
Graeme Swann
So how does Jimmy get it so right, so consistently? His rise has come over the past 13 years and it hasn’t all been plain sailing for Jimmy, he’s had patchy spells and been on the wrong end of some tough loses, like the 2006/7 Ashes whitewash. However these hard times have perhaps been the making of the man.
In his first 20 Tests, Anderson took 62 wickets at an average of 39.20, which was considerably average compared to his current average of 28.62. Jimmy also endured a stress fracture in 2006 and worked tirelessly with England’s bowling coaches to overhaul his technique, which is no mean feat for an established international player.
The hard work all paid off and since 2006 Anderson has performed consistently in all major matches around the world, swinging the ball with that classic Jimmy Anderson swagger that send batting orders into collapse.
Anderson’s 443 Test wickets are the third most wickets taken by any fast bowler, only Glenn McGrath and Courtney Walsh
Speaking to the BBC Graeme Swann described as on of the best bowlers he’s payed with. “I’ve never seen a bowler look more dangerous in any game of cricket than Jimmy did against Pakistan in 2010. He took 11 for about 50, bowling fast and swinging it both ways. We were getting loads of catches in the slips – we had about seven of them at one point. That was Jimmy at his absolute finest. He was our match-winner, the best swing bowler in the world.”
Jimmy’s latest Test haul of 10-45 against Sri Lanka proves that he still a player very much at the top of his game and he’s only getting better with age. Anderson’s 443 Test wickets are the third most wickets taken by any fast bowler, only Glenn McGrath and Courtney Walsh have had more success than him.
The summer’s tours have only just begun and there’s a lot of Test cricket to come. At Edgbaston we’re all hoping so see Jimmy spraying stumps everywhere in an England shirt, let’s hope he’s on top form against Pakistan this summer.
See Jimmy Swinging
England take on Pakistan this summer in an Investec Test Match and tickets are on sale priced from £31 for Adults and from just £6 for Juniors (U16s). You can purchase your tickets now by calling 0844 847 1902 or click here to book online.
