'An addict of the art of bowling' – Broad hails Anderson ahead of international swansong
Stuart Broad showers praise on James Anderson before the 41-year-old’s farewell Test against West Indies
James Anderson is set to play his final Test when England take on the West Indies in the series opener at the Lord’s, starting on 10 July.
With 700 wickets in 187 Test matches, Anderson currently stands third among the highest wicket-takers in the longest format and is the first among all fast bowlers.
The seasoned pacer has a chance to claim the second spot on the list by surpassing the late, great Shane Warne, who scalped 708 wickets in his esteemed career.
Stuart Broad, who has shared the field with Anderson in 138 of those 187 Tests, lauded his former bowling partner for his enduring career and remarkable skill as a fast bowler.
"He loves the rhythm of running into the bowl, the control of the technique of his action, the tactical side of whether he’s bowling away swing, inswing, wobble seam," Broad wrote in his column for The Times.
"When you talk about professionals who have had longevity, you often talk about their dedication to training, their discipline in the gym and their diet.
"And of course, you don’t play to 42 unless you have that, but the thing that makes him different is his genuine love of the art of what he does. Addict is generally used as a negative word, but I’d say he is an addict of the art of bowling,"
Anderson has received widespread acclaim for his mastery of seam and swing bowling in home conditions, but Broad highlighted his former teammate's prowess in reverse swing, particularly in subcontinental settings.
Despite being less conducive to pace bowling, Anderson has managed to capture 70 wickets in 26 Tests played in the subcontinent.
“He doesn’t get enough credit for his reverse swing, which has been crucial to his great record in the subcontinent,” Broad added. “His line and length are so immaculate and that makes him lethal.
“Dale Steyn was phenomenal and quicker than Jimmy, but Jimmy is certainly the best reverse-swing bowler I’ve played with and probably the best I’ve witnessed in the flesh outside of Steyn."
Broad praised Anderson's enduring success in cricket, attributing it to his adaptability, continuous learning and passion for bowling, marking him as England's greatest-ever bowler.
"(His) ability to adapt and learn is why he has been so successful for so long," Broad said.
“In professional sports, you have to be continually improving because there is always a younger bowler trying to get your shirt.
"It is that genuine love for the art of bowling that has made him want to improve and learn new deliveries. It’s why he will go out at Lord’s this week as England’s greatest-ever bowler."
England will host West Indies for a three-match Test series, which is a part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle.
Both teams will be eager to accumulate valuable points, with England currently positioned 9th and West Indies at 6th place in the standings.