Dale Steyn namedropped as Stuart Broad pays ultimate tribute to retiring James Anderson

Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad has penned a heartfelt tribute to his longtime teammate James Anderson, who is set to retire from international cricket after the first Test against the West Indies at Lord's.

Anderson is one of England's all-time greatest cricketers, having taken 700 wickets in 187 Test matches. He will play his last game for England at Lord’s on July 10. Broad emphasized that Anderson's exceptional quality lies in his genuine love for the craft of bowling.

Stuart Broad pays tribute to James Anderson ahead of his last Test at Lord's

Broad, reflecting on their partnership that spanned over a decade, highlighted Anderson's profound passion for bowling and described the legendary fast bowler as an "addict of the art of bowling.

The former England pacer further noted that Anderson finds joy in the rhythm of his run-up, the precision of his bowling technique, and the strategic decisions involved in delivering different types of deliveries such as away swing, inswing, and wobble seam.

Broad noted that Anderson's dedication to perfecting his bowling skills goes beyond mere professionalism, and his longevity in cricket, playing at the highest level until the age of 42, is a testament not only to his physical conditioning but also to his unwavering commitment to his art.

He also praised Anderson for symbolizing the essence of a true professional who not only excels in the technical aspects of the game but also finds immense satisfaction in the artistry of bowling.

Broad also pointed out that Anderson's skill in seam bowling in varied conditions around the world, especially in challenging subcontinent conditions, has often been overlooked. Notably, Anderson has taken 92 wickets in Asia, the most by any English bowler in Test history.

He is an addict of the art of bowling: Stuart Broad

Stuart Broad wrote in his column for The Times: “He loves the rhythm of running into the bowl, the control of the technique of his action, the tactical side of whether he’s bowling away swing, inswing, wobble seam. When you talk about professionals who have had longevity, you often talk about their dedication to training, their discipline in the gym and their diet. And of course, you don’t play to 42 unless you have that, but the thing that makes him different is his genuine love of the art of what he does. Addict is generally used as a negative word, but I’d say he is an addict of the art of bowling.”

Broad added, “He doesn’t get enough credit for his reverse swing, which has been crucial to his great record in the subcontinent. His line and length are so immaculate and that makes him lethal. Dale Steyn was phenomenal and quicker than Jimmy, but Jimmy is certainly the best reverse-swing bowler I’ve played with and probably the best I’ve witnessed in the flesh outside of Steyn.”

In the end, Broad said that Anderson's ability to adapt and continuous learning helped him to be so successful for this long. He stressed that constant improvement is crucial as there's always new talent pushing for opportunities, and the art of bowling has made Anderson want to improve and learn new deliveries. He said that Anderson will end up as England’s greatest-ever bowler this week at Lord’s.