James Anderson began his Test career at Lord's some fourteen summers ago against Zimbabwe. He took five wickets in the first innings and he is now back this week
at the famous ground, older, wiser and a different bowler, just three
short of the 500 Test wickets.
If he reach this landmark against West Indies in the third test then he will become just the third fast bowler in history, after Courtney Walsh and Glenn McGrath, to do so. Provided he can stay fit, he can break McGrath's 563 wickets, the most for a fast bowler in Test cricket.
Starting the summer on 467 wickets, Anderson is on the cusp of the 500 wicket landmark even earlier than he would have expected. "Five hundred wasn't on my mind at the start of the summer," he said.
While talking with the media, Anderson said that he wants to play in the 2019 Ashes series and another test at his home ground of Old Trafford.
Gibson will become South Africa's new head coach later this month and
Anderson believes the next appointment is "an important one for the next
generation".
"Me and Stuart could probably finish off our careers
without a bowling coach in the side," he said. "It is very important for
the guys coming through and it is important it is someone who can
prepare them for playing Test cricket."