As England great James Anderson concluded his over two-decade-long career on Friday, legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar paid a heartfelt tribute to his ‘old foe’, expressing that it was a “joy to watch” Anderson bowl. The 41-year-old Anderson retired with remarkable statistics: 704 wickets from 188 Tests, including 32 five-wicket hauls. His final match saw England defeat the West Indies by an innings and 114 runs at Lord’s.
On his ‘X’ account, Tendulkar wrote, “Hey Jimmy! You’ve bowled the fans over with that incredible 22-year spell. Here’s a little wish as you bid goodbye.” The mutual respect was evident as Anderson had previously hailed Tendulkar as the “best batter” he had ever bowled against.
Anderson had remarked, “The best batter I would have to say is Sachin Tendulkar. I don’t remember having a specific game plan against Sachin. Once he came on, I would just think that I cannot bowl a bad ball here, he was that kind of player. He was a key for India as well. If you get him out in India, the whole atmosphere in the ground changes. He was such a big wicket,” Anderson shared with Sky Sports.
Throughout his career, Anderson claimed 149 wickets in 39 Tests against India, including six five-wicket hauls. Meanwhile, Tendulkar scored 2,535 runs in 32 Tests against England at an average of 51.73, with seven centuries and 13 fifties.
