England wrapped up a comprehensive victory over West Indies by an innings and 114 runs at Lord’s on Friday as legendary seam bowler Jimmy Anderson bid farewell to Test cricket.
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Needing four wickets to get the job done ahead of day three, Anderson picked up his 704th and final Test wicket to get the ball rolling as Joshua Da Silva nicked behind to Jamie Smith.
From then on, it was the Gus Atkinson show as he dismissed Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph and Jayden Seales to finish with 12 wickets in the match.
The Surrey seamer enjoyed a dream debut, but the day was all about Anderson as he took the acclaim of the Lord’s crowd for one final time.
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Mail Sport’s David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd offers his thoughts on England’s perfect start to the summer.
England wrapped up a dominant victory over West Indies on Friday at Lord’s
![Jimmy Anderson took his 704th and final Test wicket before taking the acclaim of the crowd](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/12/18/87265583-13628969-image-a-25_1720805569315.jpg)
Jimmy Anderson took his 704th and final Test wicket before taking the acclaim of the crowd
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Sour taste over Anderson axe
So, it’s farewell to one of the greatest. The sad thing about Jimmy Anderson’s departure is that he’s bowling as well as ever.
Accuracy, pace, stamina – he’s shown all those qualities and he’s still taking wickets. They say they are moving him on with next year’s Ashes in mind. I say, pick your best team. He was forced out because of his age.
In this era of inclusivity, it takes the biscuit that someone has been stopped for that reason. Reader, let me tell you: I know the feeling. Inclusivity, my arse.
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I can call a cricket match stood on my head, but I don’t seem to be getting much work.
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![Jimmy Anderson was forced out because of his age when he still had plenty left to offer](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/12/18/87265003-13628969-image-a-18_1720805119795.jpg)
Jimmy Anderson was forced out because of his age when he still had plenty left to offer
Stop being a hot head, Popey!
Anderson’s pensioning off aside, there have been big ticks for the two Surrey debutants Gus Atkinson and Jamie Smith at Lord’s.
An observation about one of their county colleagues, though. England’s no 3 Ollie Pope played nicely for his half century, but needs to be calmer at the crease.
Some advice – watch footage of Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, or even Joe Root. Players who made batting look like it was being done in slow motion.
![Ollie Pope played nicely for his 57 but to improve his game he needs to be calmer at the crease](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/12/18/87265231-13628969-image-a-21_1720805301845.jpg)
Ollie Pope played nicely for his 57 but to improve his game he needs to be calmer at the crease
Red-hot Gus may get the chop
Speculation will now begin on who comes in for Anderson for next week’s second Test at Trent Bridge.
Well, Matthew Potts is a like for like and it might be that England opt to leave Atkinson out too after his 12-wicket performance here, bringing in Nottinghamshire’s Dillon Pennington as a genuine pace option.
Surrey have always had to manage Atkinson and he hasn’t played many back-to-back matches. Rotating the attack is a good idea with three Tests scheduled across 20 days.
![Gus Atkinson starred at Lord's but may not play at Trent Bridge as England look to manage his workload](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/12/18/87265009-13628969-image-m-20_1720805147416.jpg)
Gus Atkinson starred at Lord’s but may not play at Trent Bridge as England look to manage his workload
ICC serve the few, not the many
Let the dust settle. Please don’t decry the West Indies. I can certainly tell that this team is doing its very best, but the players just can’t cope.
Don’t blame this England team, either. They can only play what is in front of them. My issue is with the International Cricket Council. Come on, share the game’s wealth.
International cricket should be contested by equals, but the problem now is some are more equal than others. I’d ask the big three countries to consider how they’d feel if the shoe was on the other foot.
West Indies have given us some of the greatest players of all time, but the financial landscape has changed dramatically and they are indisputably one of the have nots. I implore India, England and Australia: do the decent thing and reconsider revenue distribution.
Motie could leave us in spin
Gudakesh Motie hit West Indies’ top score of 31 not out in this match, but looks a very fine bowler too.
![Gudakesh Motie impressed with his spin bowling and could cause more problems in this series](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/12/18/87265333-13628969-image-m-23_1720805438135.jpg)
Gudakesh Motie impressed with his spin bowling and could cause more problems in this series
A slow left armer with a lovely, fluid action, he spins the ball hard, possesses good loop and is accurate. It’s no fun as a spinner if you have nothing to bowl at.
A modest first innings total of 121 very quickly puts you in defensive mode, but if they can get runs on the board in the next couple of matches, he’ll be a threat.