Legendary England pacer James Anderson, who is all set to play his final Test for England on Wednesday (July 10), has ignored batting superstar Virat Kohli and legendary Australian batter Steven Smith to pick a former Indian captain as the best batter he has faced in his career. According to the 41-year-old pacer, who has 700 wickets to his name in 187 Tests played so far, Sachin Tendulkar is the best batter he has faced in his 21-year-long career, which will end this week.
During a Q&A session on Sky Sports Cricket ahead of the start of his farewell Test at the Lord’s, Anderson said, “The best batter I would have to say is Sachin Tendulkar."
Anderson has played in 39 Tests against India and picked up 149 wickets. He dismissed Tendulkar nine times.
The arm pacer was asked about the best bowler he ever faced, and in response to that, he mentioned Glenn McGrath and Dale Steyn’s names.
“The best bowler I faced probably Glenn McGrath or Dale Steyn. Hard to pick between the two. Slightly different bowlers, but both world-class," he said.
The all-time leading wicket-taker for England in Tests and ODIs also revealed that former Australian captain Michael Clarke’s dismissal in the 2013 Trent Bridge Test is the best wicket he has taken in his career, and his 81-run knock against India at the same venue is the career achievement he is most proud of.
“Career achievement I am most proud of his getting 81 at Trent Bridge against India. I know, I probably should pick a wicket or bowling performance, but getting 81 with the bat, I think, it is just something I still can’t believe I have done," Anderson said.
Needs 13 wickets to…
Anderson, who is the first pacer to dismiss 700 batters in Tests, needs 13 wickets in his final Test for England against the West Indies to become the first fast bowler and third cricketer overall after Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne to pick up 1000 or more wickets in international cricket. If he manages to dismiss at least nine batters, then he will overtake Warne’s tally of 708 wickets and finish his career as the second-leading wicket-taker in Test cricket.
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