Everyone knows Jimmy Anderson

If you don't, you need to have a long, hard look at yourself.

When you've played as long as James 'Jimmy' Anderson has, you naturally become the guy everyone knows and can relate to. 

From aspiring 12-year-olds who mimic his short, bounding approach and strive to borrow his natural coil and snap at the crease to middle-aged men playing club cricket in the wastelands of the North and the comfort of the South, all strive valiantly to find what Jimmy has, total control over their crafts. Plagiarism should be allowed and encouraged in Jimmy Anderson's case.

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In an agreeable collaboration, it's decided that Jimmy Anderson will play his last Test for England at Lords on 10 July. The opponent matters little, as it did in his first Test, at the same ground 21 years hence. Yes, 21 years ago, when Anderson was a mere slip of a genius, he now tips the scales at 41 with 700 wickets in the bank. Only Muthiah Muralidaran—once a teammate of Anderson's at Lancashire— and Shane Warne head him in Test wickets taken.

Interestingly, Warne is just eight wickets ahead; the West Indian batters will see plenty of Anderson come the Lord's Test!

Also worth noting is that the next best pace bowler is Stuart Broad on 604, who is four years Anderson's junior. Neither will be in Australia for the 2025-26 Ashes; Broad preferring the comforts of fatherhood, and Anderson believes the series, "felt like a stretch." Who can blame them?

It's hard to believe now, but on Test debut, Anderson conceded 17 runs in his first over to little-known Zimbabwean Dion Ebrahim. At the time England captain, Nasser Hussain was the blameless architect, who later came clean—well, truth be known, Jimmy did bowl some leg stump halfies! However, the innocence of youth gave way quickly to a cricket IQ that rivalled any bowler in the game—Shane Warne aside.

I don’t know Jimmy Anderson, but we do share a Lancashire cap. His current, mine from a different era.

I've been looking for a list of Lancashire's capped players. Jimmy's cap would have come a lot sooner than mine in time-served. Actually, he was probably capped by England first. My own came five years after my Lancashire debut, in 1992.. Atherton, Fairbrother, Akram vintage.

He also robbed me of an off-stump in a county second-XI game.

I’d been shipped off to the retirement village at Durham CCC in 1997, and Jimmy was doing what all 16-year-olds do: playing cricket in order to miss school.

I genuinely shake—my head— while writing this: a 34-year-old stuttering to the end of a mediocre county career playing second XI cricket back at what was once my home ground, Old Trafford. And a 16-year-old with, presumably, no clue what lay in front of him.

Nevertheless, long story short, I had little knowledge of Jimmy Anderson then; he ran in much the same as does now, and bowled a full length trying to shape out swingers—sound familiar?

The first two didn't swing and went through mid-wicket at a decent clip—if I had a strength, this was it.

The third looked much the same as the first two; then, it started to curve. It was too late; I was aiming at the Ladbrokes advertising board again, fuck, the off-stump was bent back and took off toward second slip in a cart-wheeling motion. Me? I just kept walking with the shot, once again plunging into that vacuum of, "What the fuck happened there!"

Jimmy won't remember that ball. Why would he? I've been trying to forget it ever since!

Off the bat, I am relieved Jimmy and co. have agreed to drop the curtain on an extraordinary international career. Even recently, in India, Anderson's bowling stood head and shoulders above the rest. Sadly, though, much of the commentary was centred on his age rather than his craft. It was time to depart the scene.

I follow U.S. sports. 

Tom Brady fell foul of the easy-to-play too-old tag at the end of his extraordinary career. Brady was still playing great football; even so, the punditry focused on the ageing Brady rather than the peerless Brady. Thankfully, Jimmy will dodge this—can you imagine the welcome he would receive from the Aussies?

In brief, what stood Jimmy Anderson aside from the rest?

This analysis is just my opinion on that question:

Bowling in the distinctive manner of Anderson, you're presented with two lateral options. There is a third, but this is more down to fortune. In truth, every bowler has these options, but Anderson's command of craft is what sets him apart.

Still, the first two: 

Out-swing or in-swing—these are the two lateral alternatives. And, this is traditional swing, shiny side on the outside half of the ball, not reverse swing.

Through diligent repetition (when not on the golf course) and a reliable genetic makeup, Anderson has maintained the remarkable feat of total control over these two variables throughout his career. The fascinating matrix for their effectiveness is how long the ball tracks a straight course before starting to curve (I being one of many victims). This skill is the primary key to his success and longevity.

The third is that 'lucky ball' that refuses to swing in or out, often fooling a batter only looking for lateral movement.

And, of course, there is a matter of controlling length, a variable that is even more critical than lateral movement. Again, Jimmy has mastered length control in unison with swing.

I'm sure to him, it seems similar to a night at the casino. More chips go out when the two components (line and length) talk to each other, and when one or both argue, which is rare, the wager is less. There is no doubt that Anderson has beaten the house more than the opposite. 

It's bloody remarkable, isn't it? Jimmy Anderson is still honing his craft in his 42nd year. He's been a phenomenon and will be remembered that way. On his last away tour—India—when many younger bodies wilted, Jimmy ran in with all the same purpose as years gone. His spells were intelligent, economical masterclasses—good pace, brilliant grouping. He looked like a master craftsman, not a waning old-timer hanging on (I know that feeling). What comes next? He says, "Golf" I'm sure there will be pursuits of more substance.

For now, he will focus on ensuring he exits on a high, much like he entered. 

There can be no argument that England's bowling stocks have benefitted from his unobtrusive leadership and are now set to prosper from his departure. Opportunities will be there for the next crop of bowlers who must step into those ten-to-two shoes.

Regrets?

One stands out above the rest: tickling that short ball from Neil Wagner down the leg side, which gave New Zealand victory by a solitary run. Then, Jimmy has never been able to bat!

Long live the "Burnley Lara."