James Anderson appointed bowling mentor for West Indies Test

After retiring from international cricket following the first Test at Lord’s against the West Indies, former right-handed seamer James Anderson has joined the England team as bowling mentor for the remaining two matches of the Test series. The second Test between England and the West Indies is scheduled to begin on Thursday at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.

Anderson will take on a new role from the second match, guiding England’s bowling line-up for the remainder of the series. The fast bowler retired from Test cricket on Friday as the game’s third-highest wicket-taker.

The 41-year-old took four wickets in his final Test, giving him a total of 704 career scalps in the format, placing him third behind Muttiah Muralitharan and the late Shane Warne. England secured victory in the first Test, beating the West Indians by an innings and 114 runs.

Following Anderson’s retirement, numerous cricket legends, past and present, took to social media to express their appreciation for his two decades of contribution to the sport. Reflecting on the first Test at Lord’s, Anderson took the first wicket of the day, dismissing Joshua Da Silva in a move that effectively stymied the West Indians’ resolve.

In a symbolic passing of the baton, Test debutant Gus Atkinson earned a place on the Lord’s Honours Board with a ten-wicket haul. England had earlier built up a substantial first-innings lead, with five batsmen scoring half-centuries in a total of 371. Atkinson’s impressive seven-wicket haul on day one saw the West Indians all out for 121.

With a 250-run lead on day two, England’s seamers dominated, reducing the West Indians to six wickets behind at stumps. While Atkinson continued to shine, Anderson’s early dismissal of Kraigg Brathwaite set the tone, ultimately securing victory for England by an innings and 114 runs on Friday.