Former England pace bowler Stuart Broad has paid tribute to his former teammate James Anderson, who will retire from international cricket after the opening Test against West Indies at Lord’s, saying the veteran speedster is an “addict of the art of bowling”. Anderson, who has taken 700 wickets in 187 Tests, formed a great bowling partnership with Broad for over a decade, making England a dominant force in home conditions as well.
“He loves the rhythm of running into the bowl, the control of the technique of his action, the tactical side of whether he’s bowling away swing, inswing, wobble seam,” Broad wrote in his column for The Times. “When you talk about professionals who have had longevity, you often talk about their dedication to training, their discipline in the gym and their diet. “And of course, you don’t play to 42 unless you have that, but the thing that makes him different is his genuine love of the art of what he does. Addict is generally used as a negative word, but I’d say he is an addict of the art of bowling,” Broad again wrote.
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However, Stuart Broad also added that James Anderson’s ability to seam the ball in diverse conditions worldwide, especially in the subcontinent, has not got the recognition it deserves. At 41, James Anderson has claimed 92 wickets in Asia, the most by any England bowler in Test history.
He again shared, “He doesn’t get enough credit for his reverse swing, which has been crucial to his great record in the subcontinent. His line and length are so immaculate and that makes him lethal,” Broad added. “Dale Steyn was phenomenal and quicker than Jimmy, but Jimmy is certainly the best reverse-swing bowler I’ve played with and probably the best I’ve witnessed in the flesh outside of Steyn.”
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Meanwhile, Broad, who has taken 604 wickets in 167 Tests, also applauded James Anderson’s ability to adapt to different conditions as well.
“(His) ability to adapt and learn is why he has been so successful for so long. In professional sports, you have to be continually improving because there is always a younger bowler trying to get your shirt. “It is that genuine love for the art of bowling that has made him want to improve and learn new deliveries. It’s why he will go out at Lord’s this week as England’s greatest-ever bowler,” concluded Stuart Broad.
