‘A f**king legend’: What James Anderson means to England fans

James Anderson has been a reliable presence in English cricket for 21 years, providing a sense of comfort and consistency. He exemplifies the important qualities of control and reliability that are sometimes overlooked in Test cricket.

It's hard to find an English cricket supporter who is younger than 30 and doesn't know Anderson, the reliable bowler who takes wickets all over the world.

People all over social media have been sharing stories and tributes about England's best bowler. These stories talk about small moments that had a big impact on people's lives and made them feel happier.

I went to Lord's to find out the significance of Anderson for English cricket, what kind of legacy he should leave, and whether his time should be now or only when his aging body can no longer continue.

"He is an amazing and talented player," said Steve, who is 52 years old. "Not many cricketers have been able to have such a long career like him. If it was 30 years ago, I definitely couldn't have achieved what he has."

Yes, while he may have decreased his pace within the last year and a half, he has remained reliable and an effective bowler. He is able to dictate the game and prevent runs from being scored easily. His absence will definitely be felt.

"Do you think it's the highlight of your career to play your first and last match at the same venue?"

Callum, a member of the MCC in his late 20s with a strong Scottish accent, explains: "He's talking about cricket in England. I've never seen English cricket before and Jimmy hasn't been playing."

Wherever he plays, whether in his home country or abroad, in ODIs, he is the one constant presence that I have observed across the various captains he has played under. He truly embodies England cricket.

In a recent interview, Finn, who is 25 years old, expressed that Jimmy Anderson has been a part of the England bowling team for as long as he can remember. To him, Anderson is closely associated with England cricket.

I look up to him a lot when I play cricket and it's been amazing to see him in his last Test match.

Ben's father expressed similar sentiments: "He seems like the final remnants of a bygone era, from a time before the IPL and T20 took over. It is bittersweet to see him retire, but it has been a privilege to witness his career. My younger son has grown up watching YouTube videos of Jimmy Anderson bowling, and he has tried to mimic him in his own cricketing endeavors."

There is a lot of disagreement about whether it was the right decision for him to retire from Test cricket. People can see why he did it, but they are not happy about it. Did you notice how well he performed at Southport, taking 7 wickets? Some are wondering if he could continue playing indefinitely.

"Without his influence, it's hard to say where we would be now," states Lancashire supporter Fergus. "It seems a bit early to be thinking about it, even though he is almost 42 years old."

It seems like he has the ability to continue bowling for another four years and continue to take wickets. It's hard for me to picture an England team without him on the bowling end. While it may be time for him to retire, I find it difficult to support that decision.

Callum believes that Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes have the talent to continue playing, but understands that retirement may be the right decision. He feels that a good performance in a Test match should not necessarily determine their future and that the team has not made significant progress in their plans.

One unique aspect of Anderson's career is that there are not many memorable moments that stand out. I talked to eight die-hard England fans at Lord's, and only three of them could immediately recall specific memories of Anderson. Over 21 years, his performances have blended into a collection of impressive new-ball spells, showcasing his skill of swing and seam bowling under sunny skies from the Oval to the SCG.

Ben explains that Jimmy was always true to himself and never tried to be someone he wasn't.

Tossing the ball to him on the first day and being confident that it will be successful.

Finn further explains, saying: "Staying good all the time doesn't create any special moments. It's just the steady performance and trust that makes you almost not notice the standout moments for other players."

However, among the most memorable moments, two individuals highlight the popular video of Mitchell Johnson questioning Anderson with "Why are you talking now mate, are you not getting wickets?", moments before he dismisses Ryan Harris's off-stump on the following delivery. This moment is considered one of the top moments in Ashes history.

The blog also talks about his excellent outswinger to McCullum at Trent Bridge in 2008 and a memorable moment at the batting crease - Michael Clarke warning him to prepare for a serious injury in Brisbane 11 years ago.

However, what stands out throughout is the powerful admiration for Anderson, the profound feeling of sadness experienced upon his departure, almost akin to losing a loved one or relative in the world of sports. England must now figure out how to fill the significant gap he has left behind and deal with the potential challenges his continued involvement with the team may bring.