Is James Anderson the G.O.A.T in Test match bowling? After Headingley, YES

48 balls of masterclass swing bowling. In that channel, outside off stump. Inswing, outswing and accuracy. Not huge amounts of swing, but just about enough to create doubts. It is a template that has served James Anderson brilliantly in his 18-year international career. There are doubts about him being James Clouderson, meaning he can only bowl on green pitches and cloudy conditions. There is also a saying that Anderson cannot perform well outside England but the numbers just don’t back up.

In Leeds, it was not overcast. The pitch was not that green. Yet, Anderson put in 48 balls of sheer mastery that troubled the best batsmen in the world. 8-5-6-3, in one spell, Anderson had broken the back of the India batting. The score of 78 might not look as bad as the 36 in Adelaide. But, in that eight-over spell, Anderson had restored the belief for England. At 39 years of age, even now, Anderson continues to produce mind-blowing performances day in and day out in Tests.

James Anderson getting the G.O.A.Ts in all teams

In Anderson’s 94^th Test in England, he has once again demonstrated why he is the best in the business. With 629 wickets, one cannot deny that Anderson is the greatest bowler in Test cricket. But, the one factor that enhances his greatness is highlighted in the fact that he has had success against all great batsmen in opposition teams.

The one stat that rumbled around Headingley was Anderson against India. He is the only bowler to have dismissed Sachin Tendulkar nine times in Tests. After getting rid of Virat Kohli for the second time in the series, he has now dismissed the Indian skipper seven times, the joint-most along with Nathan Lyon. Among the fab three in batting, apart from Kohli, he has dismissed Kane Williamson seven times and Steve Smith six times which is the most.

Anderson’s brilliance transcends generations. The England pacer has dismissed Michael Clarke, Jacques Kallis, Kumar Sangakkara, MS Dhoni, Graeme Smith, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag five times or more. The table below highlights his brilliance.

Should James Anderson be considered the G.O.A.T in Tests?

Anderson is now on the cusp of 400 wickets in England. The numbers that he has amassed is simply magnificent and many pace bowlers might not be able to break that record. An average of 23 at home and 31 away. In the last seven years, Anderson has just conceded an average of 30 only once. From 2014, every year, he has averaged 22 thrice, 23 once, 20, 19 and 17.

With every passing year, he is only getting better. He is 79 wickets away from overhauling the mark set by Shane Warne, who is on 708. There is no reason to believe why Anderson cannot overhaul Warne. If he plays at least 20 Tests in the next one-and-a-half years, he can overhaul Warne. Whether he can get past Muttiah Muralitharan, who is on 800 wickets, that is a different story altogether.

England’s ultimate bowler

The fact that he has gone after the greats of the game is what makes Anderson the ultimate X-factor for England. He is achieving consistency on a regular basis, be it at home or away. The fact that the conditions are being used against him in determining his greatness is a tad unfair. Sure, South Africa pacer Dale Steyn was fantastic in Asia and his stats are unparalleled. But, when it comes to sheer longevity, Anderson overpowers Steyn in many aspects.

Anderson’s brilliance transcends generations. Be it the Indian batting of the first decade of the 21^st century or the current batting, Anderson has been the one constant that has hurt India immensely. It was his spells in India in 2012 and in Australia 2010/11 that ensured England broke the jinx in those countries. The current spell might have helped England bounce back in the Headingley Test and possibly the series. Anderson was the key factor in England’s turnaround in 2014 against the same opponents. In 2021, history could very well repeat itself.