James Anderson
England·Bowler·Age 44
Left-hand bat · Right-arm fast medium
Career
James Anderson took more Test wickets than any fast bowler in history and played international cricket into his forties. His method was built on control of swing in both directions from an identical action, and on a wrist position so consistent that batters could not read the ball out of the hand.
He was at his most dangerous with a new ball in English conditions, but the second half of his career was defined by learning to take wickets where the ball does not move — in Asia, using reverse swing and a wobble seam he added in his mid-thirties. He retired from Test cricket in 2024.
Highlights
- Leading wicket-taker among fast bowlers in Test history
- Played Test cricket into his forties
- Formed the most prolific new-ball partnership in English cricket with Stuart Broad
- Added the wobble-seam delivery in his mid-thirties to succeed overseas
International
Career record
| Format | M | Inns | Runs | HS | Avg | SR | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 182 | 258 | 1,290 | 81 | 8.66 | 39.2 | 0 | 1 |
| ODI | 179 | 73 | 254 | 28 | 7.70 | 51.0 | 0 | 0 |
| T20I | 19 | 4 | 1 | 1* | 1.00 | 50.0 | 0 | 0 |
Questions
About James Anderson
What is James Anderson's playing style?
James Anderson is a left-hand bat who bowls right-arm fast medium, listed as a bowler.
How many Test wickets does James Anderson have?
More than any other fast bowler in the history of Test cricket — he is third on the all-time list behind two spinners.
What makes James Anderson's bowling distinctive?
He swings the ball both ways from an identical action and wrist position, so the batter gets no early clue which way it will move.
When did James Anderson retire?
He played his final Test in July 2024 at Lord's, after more than two decades in the England side.
Sources
- IPL figures computed from ball-by-ball records of every IPL match.
- International figures computed from Cricsheet ball-by-ball data, licensed CC BY 4.0.
- Biographical details compiled from public records.