England's legendary fast bowler James Anderson has been awarded one of the country's highest civilian honours, a Knighthood, by the British Royal Family. He will now be known as “Sir James Anderson”.
SPORTS NEWS: England's veteran fast bowler James Anderson was conferred with a Knighthood (Sir) by Princess Anne, a member of the British Royal Family, during a grand ceremony held at Windsor Castle. The 43-year-old Anderson was included in former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's “April 2024 Resignation Honours List”. This honour has been bestowed upon him for his invaluable contribution to cricket and his sportsmanship.
Name included in former British PM's Honours List
Anderson's name was included in former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's “April 2024 Resignation Honours List”. This list honours individuals who have made significant contributions to Britain's reputation and culture. Playing for England and Lancashire County, Anderson has achieved a milestone in his career that no fast bowler has ever managed. This honour recognises him as a “living legend” in the history of English cricket.
Lancashire Cricket Club shared Anderson's picture on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), writing, "Sir James Anderson! A proud day for Jimmy. Received Knighthood from Princess Anne at Windsor Castle. The greatest fast bowler of all time!"
Made history in Test Cricket
James Anderson bid farewell to his 21-year-long international career with his final Test match played at Lord's in July 2024. He took 704 wickets in 188 Test matches — a world record for the most wickets taken by any fast bowler. Only two legendary spinners are ahead of him —
- Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka): 800 wickets
- Shane Warne (Australia): 708 wickets
In ODI cricket, Anderson claimed 269 wickets, which remains the most for England. His last ODI match was played in 2015. Even after retiring from international cricket, Anderson maintained his commitment to the sport. He continued to play for his county, Lancashire, in the 2024 season and returned to T20 cricket after nearly a decade.
Anderson received a wildcard contract from Manchester Originals in “The Hundred” tournament, allowing him to re-prove himself among a new generation of players. According to reports, he is also in talks to continue his county career in the 2025 season.
Knighthood for a cricketer after six years
Prior to Anderson, former England captain Andrew Strauss was awarded a Knighthood in 2019. Thus, a cricketer has received this honour after six years. Anderson has become the 15th English cricketer to be bestowed with this prestigious title. Previously, legends like Sir Alastair Cook, Sir Ian Botham, and Sir Andrew Strauss have been included in this list.
