At age 38, James Anderson picks up 30th five-wicket haul against Sri Lanka in Galle Test

At age 38, a fast bowler can choose to retire and enjoy the bagful of wickets he has taken in his career. For James Anderson, he has always defied critics with his brilliance as he gets better with age. The other criticism is that James Anderson always performs when there are clouds and the pitch is green in color. However, in 2021, James Anderson defied critics and produced one of the best performances by a right-arm pace bowler in Tests in Sri Lanka. During the second day of the second Test, James Anderson picked up his 30th Test five-wicket haul and second in Sri Lanka as he picked up six wickets. However, Sri Lanka was boosted by a century from Angelo Mathews and fifties from Niroshan Dickwella, Dinesh Chandimal and Dilruwan Perera as they neared 400. 

James Anderson, though, was the star of the show as he showed that age was just a number as he put up a magnificent display of bowling. James Anderson got rid of Kusal Perera and Oshada Fernando in quick succession. When a partnership was building, James Anderson dismissed Lahiru Thirimanne. Angelo Mathews smashed a century but he too fell to James Anderson. Niroshan Dickwella missed out on his century and he managed to dismiss Suranga Lakmal and Ramesh Mendis quickly but Dilruwan Perera helped Sri Lanka frustrate England. However, Sam Curran took the final wicket as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 381 as James Anderson ended with the second-best figures by a right-arm pace bowler in Tests in Galle. His figures of 29-13-40-6 are his best in Asia.

Anderson's records

James Anderson became only the third bowler to have picked up six wickets in an innings in a Test in Sri Lanka. Pakistan's Waqar Younis picked up 6/34 in Kandy in 1994 and Mohammad Asif picked up 6/44 also in Kandy in 2006. Anderson became the first right-arm pace bowler to take six wickets in Galle as England looked to consolidate their position in the ICC World Test Championship. James Anderson has now taken a five-wicket haul ina Test for 15 consecutive years which is a legendary steak.

England needs to win all their remaining five games if they have any chance of qualifying for the final at Lord's, a venue where James Anderson is the leading wicket-taker. However, in Galle, James Anderson has once again shown that his skill is not bound by conditions and pitches. His skill is forever eternal.