James Anderson: A graphical tribute to an almost spotless career of tailendery
Today, we have a beautiful graphic tribute to James Anderson's batting that was submitted by Bert, a loyal contributor to King Cricket.
We don't see days like this often. We are seeing the end of an amazing era in sports in our country - the career of James "Jimmy" Anderson. It feels right to pay a small visual tribute to the best number 11 batter this country has ever had.
Jimmy Anderson Has Scored Zero In 78 Test Matches!
In almost 33% of Anderson's test appearances, he returned to the pavilion without scoring more than one run. In over 50% of his innings, he scored zero, one, or two runs. Despite once scoring 81 runs, we shouldn't let this one instance overshadow his otherwise successful career as a tail-ender.
James Anderson's batting performance was characterized by a relaxed stroll to the pitch, reminiscent of David Gower. He approached the crease with the same care and attention as any lower-order batsman, causing even experienced umpires to question the purpose of it all. Despite facing some of the world's less skilled fast bowlers, he stood his ground and faced their deliveries without hesitation.
He frequently performed this action for an extended period of time. He was involved in the greatest last-wicket partnership in Test history, where he unexpectedly scored 81 runs. Beyond that, he witnessed his batting teammates contribute an additional 2,500 runs to England's overall score.
He got 1,353 runs in total, and a big chunk of them, around 98%, were scored by hitting the ball towards the third man boundary. It might not be completely accurate, but it's close. He also managed to score some runs by edging the ball through the slips, I recall that clearly. Surprisingly, another way he scored runs was by using the reverse sweep shot.
One more impressive fact. The main goal of a batter is to avoid getting out. Anderson batted alongside other players in various partnerships, some of whom were selected for their strong batting skills. Surprisingly, in 43% of the innings, it was Anderson who remained not out.
The James Anderson Trash Squad Members Eleven
Because Anderson's figure is so close to what would be expected based on statistics, it suggests that he must have been as skilled at batting as all of his teammates. This includes players like Pietersen, Trott, Root, and Panesar. Anderson was just as good, if not better, than all of them.
Therefore, the chart indicates that his most frequent score was zero runs without being dismissed. This is how he ultimately ended up - zero runs, not out.
We will not see someone like him again for a while.
Currently, West Indies are behind by 171 runs with only four wickets remaining in their second innings. It would be a major setback if Anderson is needed to bat again.
James Anderson has announced his retirement, and England cricket fans will soon be witnessing a change in the game. England will now have to find new ways to keep viewers engaged without their star bowler.
Test cricket is continuing, and we are excited to find the next talented number 11 player. Sign up for our email updates to stay updated with all the latest news in the sport.
