Another glorious chapter has been added to the history of England cricket. James Anderson, a legendary fast bowler in Test cricket, has been awarded a knighthood in the British Empire. This honor was bestowed upon him under former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's 'Resignation Honours List'.
Sports News: England's legendary fast bowler, James Anderson, has been awarded the prestigious knighthood in former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's resignation honours list. This is a proud moment for the cricketing world, as Anderson received this honor for his extraordinary cricketing career and contribution to the country.
Anderson bid farewell to Test cricket in July. He is the highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, having taken over 700 Test wickets in his career and serving as the backbone of England's bowling attack for a long time. This honor not only recognizes Anderson's statistics but also salutes his long, disciplined, and inspiring career. Anderson is now the 13th cricketer from England to be awarded a knighthood.
More Than Just a Fast Bowler; A Legacy Carrier
Anderson participated in 188 Test matches, the most by any fast bowler. With 704 Test wickets, he achieved the milestone of being the highest wicket-taker among fast bowlers in this format. Only Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Shane Warne (708), both spinners, have taken more wickets.
Anderson played his final Test match in July 2024 at Lord's against the West Indies, marking the end of an era. During his career, he also played 194 ODIs (269 wickets) and 19 T20 Internationals (18 wickets). In total, he has 991 wickets across all three formats.
Rishi Sunak and Anderson: From the Field to Honors
Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak did not hide his love for cricket during his tenure, and Anderson was one of his favorite players. Sunak even shared a video of himself playing a net session with Anderson, which went viral on social media. Anderson's receiving the highest sporting honor in Sunak's resignation honors list demonstrates that the decision was based not only on statistics but also on his dedication to cricket.
Previous cricketers to receive knighthoods include Sir Ian Botham (2007), Sir Geoffrey Boycott (2019), Sir Alastair Cook (2019), and Sir Andrew Strauss (2019). Anderson is now the fifth English cricketer to receive this honor in the 21st century.
