James Anderson outfoxes Alastair Cook during County Championship game

James Anderson is ageing like a fine wine as the 40-year-old put on another swing masterclass during Day 1 of the County Championship Division One match between Lancashire and Essex on Thursday, April 13 at Chelmsford. 

The England legend ended up picking two wickets in his 11-over spell while giving away 33 runs. His two wickets included the prized scalp of his former England captain and teammate Alastair Cook. 

Running in to bowl the 11^th over of Essex’s first innings, Anderson bowled a good length delivery on the fourth ball of the over from around the wicket bringing Cook on the front foot. The southpaw, however, ended up missing the delivery angling into him and it crashed into his front pad.

Anderson appealed at the top of his voice to claim lbw and his request was happily accepted by the umpire who raised his finger to send Cook on his way back to the pavilion for just 16.

Watch the video of the dismissal here:

LV= Insurance County Championship@CountyChamp

It's happened! @jimmy9 gets Alastair Cook LBW #LVCountyChamp

10:02 PM · Apr 13, 2023

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Before Cook, England’s leading wicket-taker in Tests dismissed Nick Browne in the very first over of the innings making him edge one straight to the slips. Will Williams gave the third blow to Essex as he trapped captain Tom Westley in front of the stumps.

An unbeaten stand between Dan Lawrence (39) and Matt Critchley (23) of 73* for the fourth wicket took Essex to 98/3 at stumps on Day 1 trailing Lancashire by 109 runs.

Earlier in the day, after choosing to bat first, Lancashire were bundled out for 207 courtesy of a five-wicket haul from Sam Cook who picked up 5/42 in 17.5 overs. Lancashire were in disarray at 86/6 before George Bell and Tom Hartley got together at the crease and forged a 67-run partnership for the seventh wicket.

Bell fell prey to Sam Cook after scoring 60 while Hartley was dismissed for 33 by Simon Harmer. Doug Bracewell also picked up 2/38 in 15 overs while Jamie Porter and Harmer picked up one wicket each for Essex.