James Anderson, the legendary fast bowler, will be knighted for his exceptional 21-year career with England. According to ESPNcricinfo, his name was on former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s resignation honours list.

After taking 704 Test wickets, the most by an English bowler and the most by any fast bowler in history, the 42-year-old announced his retirement from international cricket in 2024. With a last match against the West Indies at Lord’s in July 2024, he concluded his England career after playing 188 Test matches. He made his debut against Zimbabwe in May 2003, marking the beginning of his adventure at the same location.

Even though Anderson hasn’t represented England in white-ball cricket since 2015, he still retains the national record for most ODI wickets (269) and T20I wickets (18), coming within nine of 1,000 international wickets.

Anderson hasn’t completely left the game even though he is no longer playing for England. Like Alastair Cook, who continued to play for Essex after being knighted in 2019, he is recuperating from a calf injury and intends to play domestic cricket for Lancashire this summer.

“Congratulations, Sir Jimmy Anderson,” remarked ECB chair Richard Thompson. According to ESPNcricinfo, “This is a truly well-deserved honour for an England legend who has contributed so much to our sport.”

“Jimmy’s career has been characterised by remarkable accomplishments, including being England’s all-time top wicket-taker and winning the Ashes four times. Millions of cricket players and fans in England and throughout the globe have been inspired by his talent, tenacity, and sportsmanship,” he said.

“This is fitting recognition for a true world great who has given so much to the game on and off the pitch,” he said.

When announcing financing for grassroots cricket, Rishi Sunak, a cricket lover himself, had once faced Anderson in the nets at The Oval. Filmmaker Matthew Vaughn and five additional knighthoods, mostly for his former cabinet colleagues, are on Sunak’s list of honours.

Since his retirement, Anderson’s knighthood has been anticipated. Former England captain Andrew Strauss, who received a knighthood in 2019, had previously said that Anderson was well worthy of the accolade due to his accomplishments.
“Very much so!” The statement from Strauss was taken from ESPNcricinfo.

“I think any fast bowler that plays 188 Test matches deserves a knighthood; I’ll put it that way,” he said.