James Anderson picks the best batter he has faced ahead of farewell Test

As the whole world prepares to bid farewell to one of its greatest fast bowlers, James Anderson is set to play his final Test match for England against the West Indies at Lord's on Wednesday, July 10. With an illustrious career spanning over two decades, Anderson leaves behind a legacy that will be hard to match.

Anderson's retirement marks the end of an era in English cricket. Having made his international debut in 2002, he has witnessed the evolution of the sport from the dominance of Test cricket to the rise of T20 leagues.

His decision to prioritize Test cricket over white-ball formats has been instrumental in shaping his career and the success of the English team. In a recent Q&A session with Sky Sports Cricket, Anderson reflected on his career and shared insights about the best players he has faced.

Surprisingly, when asked about the best batter he has bowled to, Anderson ignored contemporary greats like Virat Kohli and Steve Smith, instead naming former Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar. Anderson featured in 39 Tests against India and picked up 149 wickets, dismissing Tendulkar on nine occasions.

“The best batter I would have to say is Sachin Tendulkar," he said.

The veteran pacer also weighed in on the best bowlers he has faced, naming Australian legend Glenn McGrath and South African speedster Dale Steyn. 

“The best bowler I faced was probably Glenn McGrath or Dale Steyn. Hard to pick between the two. Slightly different bowlers, but both world-class," he added.

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Career achievement I am most proud of his getting 81 at Trent Bridge: James Anderson

Anderson's career has been filled with memorable moments, but he singled out his dismissal of Michael Clarke in the 2013 Trent Bridge Test as his best wicket. Interestingly, when asked about his proudest career achievement, Anderson chose his batting performance. 

“Career achievement I am most proud of his getting 81 at Trent Bridge against India. I know, I probably should pick a wicket or bowling performance, but getting 81 with the bat, I think, it is just something I still can’t believe I have done," Anderson further added.

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As he prepares for his 188th, the right-arm quick has 700 Test wickets to his name, he needs just 13 more to become the first fast bowler and third cricketer overall to reach 1000 international wickets. Even nine wickets in his farewell Test would see him surpass Shane Warne's tally of 708, securing his place as the second-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket history.