[Watch] James Anderson given guard of honor by both teams on Day 3 of ENG vs WI 1st Test

James Anderson. (Image Credits: England cricket Twitter)
James Anderson. (Image Credits: England cricket Twitter)

With veteran seamer James Anderson walking out for the last time in international cricket, England and West Indies players gave him a guard of honor on Day 3 of the first Test at Lord's. The right-arm seamer also strode out on the field to a crowd that applauded him significantly.

The build-up to the first Test has been fully about 41-year-old Anderson, who made his first appearance for England at Lord's and marked his ending at the same venue.

Although Anderson managed only one wicket in the first innings against the West Indies, he has already picked up three in the second essay. He dismissed visiting captain Kraigg Brathwaite and Alick Athanaze on day 2, followed by Joshua Da Silva, as the wicketkeeper-batter was the first to go on Day 3.

The home side has been in the driver's seat since day 1 when Ben Stokes opted to bowl first and skittled the West Indies out for 121. They held a 62-run lead by the end of the opening day and batted the majority of the subsequent day to go ahead by 250 runs.


James Anderson denied the opportunity to go past Shane Warne in Test wicket tally

The Lancashire bowler entered the game needing only nine scalps to overhaul Shane Warne's tally of 708 and become the second-highest wicket-taker in Tests. However, debutant Gus Atkinson picked up seven wickets in the first and Anderson managed only one, taking his tally to 701.

At present, the veteran Englishman has 704 wickets under his belt, with Atkinson picking up 11 in the game, meaning that the outgoing seamer doesn't even have a shot at a fifer.

At the pre-match press conference, English skipper Ben Stokes admitted that Anderson is bowling as well as ever, but the decision has been made to win back the urn when England travel to Australia next year for the Ashes.

Nevertheless, managing director Robert Key has asserted that the 41-year-old will remain with them as the bowling mentor.

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Edited by Ankush Das