Newcomer thrives as cricket’s circle of life closes in on Jimmy Anderson
By Adam Collins
If transitions were easy, there wouldn’t be so much emphasis on them. As true in sport as in any competitive endeavour, the process of replacing the best is seldom easy, usually painful and occasionally shambolic.
Take the timely example of British politics – James Anderson’s 22-year international career has spanned eight prime ministerships, with five since 2016.
But as the gnarly old quick winds up his mighty England journey this week, he does so in the knowledge that the vital first step in replacing him could barely have been more successful. A Lord’s stage set up for him instead hosted a show stolen by newcomer Gus Atkinson.
Newcomer Gus Atkinson (left) takes a West Indian wicket and the congratulations of his outgoing teammate James Anderson (right).Credit: Getty Images
All the comparisons and touchstones were there. When Jimmy – his nickname as universally used as any in the game – made his Test bow on the same ground in 2003, he too took a hatful of wickets in a display of skilful fast bowling that demanded attention.
As Atkinson steamrolled the West Indies either side of lunch, bagging 7 for 45 in the process, it instantly became a moment that will be referenced for the rest of the 26-year-old’s life.
Bowling first change to follow Anderson away from the pavilion, the Surrey bowler sent down the fastest first over from an England bowler since that data has been kept. It was not hair-raising compared to Mark Wood at his most frightening, but it demonstrated his readiness.
A wicket with his second ball helped, the visiting captain chopping on. The ball to sort out Kirk McKenzie was better, hitting the seam and finding the edge at 90 miles per hour – always a neater measure than kilometres (145km/h) to tell whether a bowler is lively.
Four maidens in five overs, two wickets for two. What nerves?
That Anderson hadn’t yet enjoyed success, despite bowling nicely before lunch, was no longer the only story in north-west London.
It definitely wasn’t after Atkinson returned, routing the West Indies’ middle order with three wickets in four balls.
He might have just missed the exclusive lists of bowlers with a hat-trick on debut, or a wicket with their first career delivery, but he had done what Jimmy had: straight onto the honour’s board.
Two more wickets in the next over gave the new bloke the ridiculous analysis of 7-37, and with three cracks at the number 11, a chance to better the finest ever figures on Test debut, Albert Trott’s 8-43 in 1895.
That wasn’t to be, but the point was made and made again: a man earmarked for big things in all timezones had something going on.
The chance that Atkinson might be able to take this on the road is at the heart of why Anderson is being retired. As Ben Stokes himself posed this week, if this home summer were only about one summer, there would be no reason to swap out the man with 700 wickets.
Anderson leads England from the Long Room onto the field at Lord’s.Credit: Getty Images
Instead, Atkinson is medium-term planning, something England sides have routinely failed to do when it comes to winning in Australia. The brains trust of Brendon McCullum and Rob Key will cop stick for getting ahead of themselves, but it’s difficult to think of two people who will care less.
It’s a bigger picture that Anderson himself has talked about since the decision was made.
His has been a gigantic career, going back to one-day cricket in Melbourne in December 2002, when he first pulled on an England shirt before running in against Hayden and Gilchrist.
In so many ways, he belongs to an earlier generation. But he combined longevity with a thirst for knowledge – see the way his bowling average plummeted after mastering the wobble-seam delivery. This attribute is what makes all the tributes worthy, the farewell Test most fitting.
Approaching his 42nd birthday, Anderson’s bowling action remains as smooth as ever.Credit: Getty Images
As Anderson prepared to walk down from the Long Room to the Lord’s field for the first time in his 29th and final Test at the ground, a montage on the big screen came moments before his daughters rang the five-minute bell. It was the only visible emotion, a scrunch of the nose stopping him from shedding a tear. His autobiography title suggests a machine – Bowl, Sleep, Repeat – but he’s human and he felt the love. Jimmy the cricket nut, as he is at the core, understands his own legacy.
The loudest Lord’s was on the day was when Anderson got one full and straight to blow a pad off to end the Windies’ innings. In part, this was relief – everyone wanted him in the book; there would be none of that wicketless awkwardness as they went back up the steps.
The crowd, who roared when England won the toss and bowled, got to share the love again.
But it would be Atkinson leading England through the famous old gates that Anderson had led them out of a few hours earlier.
No matter what happens next, they are links in the chain, joined on this day, their time together as England players fleeting but so but significant.
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