When Kent’s Heino Kuhn edged an away swinger from Jimmy Anderson into the gloves of Dane Vilas, History was made. The king of swing had picked up his 1,000th first class wicket. In a remarkable spell of bowling Anderson ripped through the Kent side by finishing with figures of 7 for 19 at Old Trafford.
Anderson has also become the first Lancashire player to pass 1,000 first class wickets since Jack Simmons in 1988. Simmons, was a slow bowler, whilst the last fast bowler to complete this feat was Andrew Caddick in August 2005.
Approaching fourty, but can still go for a while yet
The lad from Burnley who will be 39 at the end of the month still has that wow factor. Anderson has taken 339 first class wickets for Lancashire and 617 for England in a fruitful career that has spanned 19 years.
It took him only 33 balls to go from 995 first class wickets to four figures. In so doing became only the 14th bowler to reach the milestone this century and the first to do it debuting after the millennium. Only four of those to 1,000 this century have been quick bowlers.
Anderson has already stated that he wants to go to Australia in the winter for the Ashes. The Burnley maestro is confident of at least another year or two terrorising batsman at the crease.
Made his debut back in 2002
Who would off thought that a young quick bowler from Lancashire would have proved to be one of England’s finest bowlers. When he made his debut back in 2002 as a 19 year old few would off predicted his future success.
His first victim was Ian Ward playing for Surrey against Lancashire at Old Trafford. His second was a certain Rikki Clarke in the same innings who is now back at Surrey.
Many in the cricketing world will claim quite rightly so that Anderson is the best swing bowler in the world. To play so many years and be as consistent as he has takes a lot of character. To keep going and to cope with pain says something of his charisma. Others have failed whilst Anderson just keeps carrying on.
Anderson has always loved the game of cricket
Anderson simply loves the game of cricket. He is an artist, an expert in his field and is still performing to the highest level. When the time eventually comes for him to hang up his boots it will be a bad day for cricket.
Batsman will be mighty relieved but the cricket connoisseur will be so upset. We may never see another like the Burnley legend for a very long time.