James Anderson Denied Knighthood Amid Fears Of Sledging By Australia In The 2021/22 Ashes

Champion England seamer James Anderson has reportedly missed out on being in the New Years honours list amid fears that it would give an opportunity to the Australians to sledge him in the upcoming Ashes series Down Under later this year.

Those who are in charge feel that conferring the legendary fast bowler with a knighthood at the end of his career will be a better idea.

Anderson, who became the first fast bowler in the history of the game to take 600 Test wickets, is in line to embark on his 5th tour Down Under next winter as he hopes to spearhead England to an Ashes triumph for the first time since 2015.

The move to delay his knighthood is motivated by the fact that former Aussie spinner Shane Warne had sledged all-rounder Paul Collingwood during 2006/07 Ashes after he was conferred with the MBE for being a part of the 2005 Ashes-winning team.

When he does get conferred, James Anderson will become the 31st cricketer and the 15th Englishman to get honoured with Knighthood. He will join his former teammates Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook among the recent cricketers to be knighted.

Anderson is currently in Sri Lanka to take part in the two-match Test series, starting January 14 in Galle.

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