Key Takeaways:
James Anderson is the most successful fast bowler in Test cricket history, with 704 wickets in 188 matches.
His performances have spanned two decades, proving his adaptability in different conditions.
Anderson has delivered match-winning performances worldwide, including in England, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand.
His best performance came against Sri Lanka in 2016, where he took 10 wickets for just 45 runs.
This is the third in our series of articles about best bowling performances in test cricket and we have saved the best for last and we will be talking about none other than the all time greatest fast bowler in the history of test cricket. Anderson played 188 test matches which is the second highest test matches played by anyone in history. Let’s look at his unmatched records below.
James Anderson played test cricket from 2003 to 2024. He has played 188 test matches and taken 704 test wickets. I have so much respect for him and what he has achieved and choosing the Top 5 will be very hard so let’s get to it.
James Anderson’s Greatest Bowling Performances in Test Cricket
5/73 vs Zimbabwe (2003)
James Anderson does things that very few could do and so when he was bowling in his first test innings he got a 5 wicket haul and from that moment it was clear that he would be great. He showed no nerves at all and just went about his work and decimated Zimbabwe who were a great team back then. He bowled 16 overs of great fast bowling and took 5 wickets for 73 runs and he announced himself to the world and all the other teams were taking note. It was perfect.
5/73 vs New Zealand (2008)
This is the first overseas performance in this list and here England won this test match and he was the hero in that win. James Anderson had to prove that he can take wickets away from England and in this match by taking 5 wickets he showed just that. It was the first batting innings for New Zealand and Jimmy Anderson was in his groove and he bowled for 20 overs giving away 73 Runs and getting 5 wickets for his efforts. England won this test match by 126 runs and he established himself as an all conditions Bowler.
5/83 and 3/98 vs South Africa (2010)
Going into South Africa and taking 8 wickets in the match was a performance that is worthy of being in this list even though the match was a draw and by this time the world had known how good Jimmy Anderson was but he has to prove himself in South Africa. In the first innings of South Africa Jimmy Anderson got 5 wickets for 83 runs in 21.1 overs and it was against a great South Africa team and then in the 3rd innings of this match Jimmy Anderson was the pick of the England Bowlers as he got another 3 wickets and the match was a draw.
4/66 and 3/61 vs Australia (2011)
This is the 4th country that is on this list and it shows that contrary to some people who believe that Jimmy Anderson only does well in England he can perform in every country and this performance at the SCG was proof. In the first innings Australia were restricted because of Jimmy Anderson who bowled his heart out for 30 overs and got 4 important wickets for 66 runs and as a result gave England the edge. In the third Innings of the test match Jimmy Anderson was again in the thick of wickets as he picked up another 3 important wickets which made it 7 for the match and England won this match by an innings and 83 runs and he was one of the major reasons behind it.
5/16 and 5/29 vs Sri Lanka (2016)
This is the fifth performance in my list and this is included because he picked up 10 wickets in the match giving away only 45 runs which is crazy. It was the second innings of the batch and Sri Lanka were nowhere in the match as Jimmy Anderson ripped apart their batting order and took 5 wickets for just 16 runs in 11.4 overs which is simply outstanding. Then he matched this performance in the Third innings of the match and again got a 5 wicket haul and this time Sri Lanka made 13 runs more off his bowling but in 13.3 overs he dismantled the Sri Lankan team again and England won this match by an innings and 88 runs.
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