New Delhi: England legendary James Anderson who has donned the white for one last time, walking into the sunset as an international cricketer, will surely be leaving behind a plethora of moments to cherish from his long and flamboyant career. Although he has bowled to a number of batters, honing his skills and excelling on the field, there’s one in the list that left him perplexed every time both faced each other.
Many international cricketers started their careers and ended it as well during ‘Jimmy’s’ era and the pace spearhead was indeed unfazed. But… he recently revealed that Indian great Sachin Tendulkar is the one who confused him a lot and is certainly the best batter he has ever bowled to. This weighs in on the fact of Tendulkar’s greatness as he has faced a variety of fast bowlers during his career that transcend generations.
Even though Anderson dismissed Tendulkar on nine occasions, he struggled to have a set plan against the master blaster. “The best batter I would have to say is Sachin Tendulkar,” Anderson told Sky Sports when he was asked about the toughest batter he has ever bowled to.
“I don’t remember having a specific game plan against Sachin Tendulkar. Once he came on, I would just think that I cannot bowl a bad ball here, he was that kind of player. He was a key for India as well. If you get him out in India, the whole atmosphere, in the ground changes. He was such a big wicket,” Anderson said.
Jimmy Anderson, there are no words 🤯 pic.twitter.com/bBRCS1uykD
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 11, 2024
How do we get God out?
Tendulkar represented India for 24 years and Anderson, who has completed 21 years in red-ball cricket for England, has set a telling for fast bowlers. In 21 years, he became the first English bowler to breach the 700-wicket mark during the India tour earlier this year.
The 41-year-old further said that both Tendulkar and him have enjoyed success against each other. “You just try on bowling your best ball, top of off-stump, the whole time and hope he misses a straight one. In England, he might knick the odd one, but generally, I’d try and get him out LBW early. I had some success against him, but he had success against me as well. He got runs against us quite a lot,” Anderson said.
JIMMY ANDERSON COMPLETES 40,000 DELIVERIES IN TEST CRICKET. 🤯
– He ran approximately 800km in his run up only! 🥶 pic.twitter.com/wbs2s7BgbX
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 11, 2024
While the right-arm fast bowler claimed 149 wickets in 39 Tests against India with six five-wicket hauls, Tendulkar accumulated 2,535 runs in 32 Tests against England at 51.73 with seven hundreds and 13 fifties.
Anderson also termed his iconic 81 at Nottingham in July 2014 against India as one of his “proud” achievements. Leaving everyone bewildered “I am most proud of getting 81 at Trent Bridge against India. I probably should pick a wicket or bowling performance, but getting 81 with the bat, it is just something I still can’t believe I have done,” he said.
Anderson currently plays his 188th and farewell Test for England who host West Indies for the first Test at the Lord’s in London.
James Anderson recently opened up on the best batter he has ever bowled to during his 21 years long Test career. He currently features in his farewell Test as England take on West Indies at the Lord’s. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
