Anderson set for 100th cap against West Indies

Rory Dollard 06:46 13/04/2015
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  • Swing king: England's James Anderson.

    As a child growing up in Burnley, England, James Anderson watched Ian Botham’s Ashes heroics on loop and now, on the cusp of a 100th Test appearance, he is set to take his place in the record books.

    Botham’s position in the country’s affections will probably never be usurped, but four West Indian wickets in Antigua next week will see Anderson stand alone as England highest Test wicket-taker.

    Botham’s mark of 383 has stood unimpeached for 23 years but will almost certainly tumble in the Caribbean, with Anderson lying in wait on 380 ahead of the three-match series.

    Few could begrudge the 32-year-old his place in history, after 12 years of stellar service to the Three Lions. Anderson has spent much of his adult life as England’s king of swing, emerging as a teenage prodigy barely out of club cricket and refining his art to virtuoso levels after some early teething problems.

    But before all that he was a young cricket fan revelling in Botham’s brilliance.

    “I was born in 1982 but my Dad had the ‘81 Ashes video and growing up I had that on all the time,” he said. “He’s a legend of the game and a legend of English cricket. For me to have the opportunity to go past him is a dream come true.

    “For a bowler there’s no greater achievement. I can’t quite believe I’ve got this far.”

    Despite the scale of the achievement ahead of him, the Lancashire seamer is keen not to turn the Antigua Test, starting today, into the Anderson show.

    He would be forgiven for basking in the moment – only 12 other Englishmen have ever won a century of caps, and of those only Botham shared Anderson’s labours as a fast bowler.

    But English cricket is in a parlous state, with Paul Downton’s sacking as managing director continuing the ECB’s near-permanent state of flux and the humiliation of the recent World Cup still raw.

    With that in mind Anderson is trying to focus on helping the side get back on track rather than putting his own name in lights.

    “As a bowler I’d be absolutely delighted if I get four wickets in the Test, but I’m not thinking about that,” he said. “One hundred per cent you’ve got to ignore it. It’ll be a special occasion for me on the morning of the game but from a team point of view we’ve had an awful winter.

    “We need to get back to winning ways, so we need to start this series well and that’s all the build-up has been about.

    “I’ve prepared for this like it was any other Test and so have the other guys. We’re trying to win a game of cricket and we have to concentrate on that.”

    Anderson has plenty of miles in his legs, having bowled more than 22,000 deliveries in Test cricket alone, and readily admits that people regularly ask him about retirement plans.

    But his hunger to continue burns bright, partially fuelled by a stint early in his career when it seemed as though his international future was slipping away.

    He debuted in 2003, taking five for 73 against Zimbabwe, but after issues with his run-up and action took root he became a peripheral figure.

    He played just 12 Tests between December 2003 and March 2008, eventually nailing down his spot on tour in New Zealand and never looking back from there. The hard times have never been far from his mind though.

    “It’s been hard. It’s not been ridiculously easy, that’s for sure,” he said. “I got off to a good start in my career but then had dodgy form and injuries.

    “I had a few years where I was out of the side and didn’t know if I’d ever play again. There have obviously been low periods.

    “But having experienced Test cricket and seen how amazing it is to play for England, that determination to play again has driven me on. Once I got another chance I didn’t want to let it go again.

    “I’ve never forgotten the sitting on the sidelines for 18 months or two years not being able to be out there doing what I love.”

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