James Anderson Last Test Match
England’s great fast bowler James Anderson will be looking to put up a memorable performance in the last match of his Test career when he takes the field in the first match of the two-match series against the West Indies starting on Wednesday.
The first match of the series to be played at the historic Lord’s ground will be Anderson’s 188th and last Test match of his career.
Anderson had made up his mind to retire in April this year
Anderson had made up his mind to retire in April this year when ECB Managing Director Rob Key, coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes told him that he was not part of their plans for the Ashes to be played in 2025-26. Anderson took 10 wickets at an average of 33.50 in his last series played in India. He became the first fast bowler to touch the 700-wicket mark during the last Test in Dharamsala. Before the series against the West Indies, Anderson showed signs of being in form by taking seven wickets for 35 runs for Lancashire in county cricket.
The journey started at Lord’s; it will end there
He started his career 21 years ago in 2003 at Lord’s ground. His best performance in Tests has come on this ground. He took seven wickets for 42 runs against West Indies in 2017. In this Test, one era will end on one hand and another may begin. Surrey fast bowler Gus Atkinson and wicketkeeper Jamie Smith have been given a chance to make their Test debut. Both played limited overs cricket for England last year. Atkinson was part of the ODI World Cup team.
Woakes is making a comeback in the team
Chris Woakes is making a comeback in the team. He was the best player of the series in the Ashes last year. Stokes will be seen in the role of all-rounder, giving off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, who took 17 wickets on the India tour, a chance to take the field for the first time in a home Test. The West Indies team will play its first Test after a thrilling eight-run win over Australia in Brisbane in January this year. Fast bowler Jaden Seals has returned to the team along with former captain and all-rounder Jason Holder. Opener Michael Lewis and fast bowler Jeremiah Lewis are the new players in the 15-member squad. Lewis has been included in the team in place of injured Kemar Roach.
Both teams are as follows:
England Cricket team:
Jack Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, James Anderson.
West Indies Cricket team:
Craig Brathwaite (captain), Alick Athanaze, Joshua Da Silva, Jason Holder, Kavem Hodge, Tevin Imlach, Alzari Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Michael Lewis, Zachary McCaskey, Kirk McKenzie, Gudakesh Moti, Jaden Seals, Kevin Sinclair, Jeremiah Lewis.