The evergreen James Anderson’s remarkable Test career continues as he replaced Australia skipper Pat Cummins and went past India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin to become the No.1 ranked bowler on the latest ICC Men’s Test Rankings. India legend Ravi Shastri was full of praise for the England fast bowler, hailing him as one of the best pacers to have ever played the sport. He also revealed how he used Anderson’s ‘work ethic’ to inspire Indian fast bowlers during his time as the head coach.
“I used to watch him so closely when I was a coach on tours of England every time. And what I used to admire was his work ethic,” Shastri said. “Even in Indian conditions, there were times he didn’t play in India. But he would go out to bowl at lunch or straight after the day’s play or before the day’s play.
“I would say he would bowl 20 balls or 25 balls at the most. But every ball, he would give it his all. And at times I would tell my fast bowlers, ‘Just watch that. Just watch the professionalism, the work ethic’. And it’s not a half-hearted delivery. Those 15-20 balls, whatever they had to bowl, would be as if he’s bowling in a game. He bowls six and maybe takes a little break as if it’s someone else’s bowling. Then come back and do that. And then the action, the follow through and the rhythm, the running in, was just the same for all those 20 balls.
“So these are real professionals, and a stickler for fitness. You can’t play at 40 and produce these kinds of results unless you are supremely fit. So, hats off. Well done, Jimmy. I would say. He’s a role model. He inspires so many. Leave alone batters playing at the age of 40, but for a fast bowler to play at 40, you just salute it.”
Anderson now ranks third in the world in the list of all-time test wicket-takers. With 682 wickets, he only stands behind the spin duo Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Shane Warne (708). 429 of those wickets came at home, which is the second-most after the Sri Lankan spin wizard (493).
