James Anderson to receive knighthood as part of Rishi Sunak's resignation honours list

Former England pacer James Anderson is set to receive knighthood as part of former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s resignation honours list. The 42-year-old fast bowler has been one of England's most influential cricketers for over two decades, and this prestigious honour recognises his extraordinary contributions to the game.

Anderson, who was previously awarded an OBE in 2016 by the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace, is widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of cricket. The fast bowler represented Lancashire in domestic cricket, holding the record for the most wickets taken by a fast bowler in Test cricket, with 704 scalps to his name. The right-arm pacer is the only fast bowler to have bowled well into his 40s and became the oldest player to top the ICC Men’s Test Bowling Rankings.

The Burnley-born bowler, known for his exceptional swing and control is also England's most-capped Test player, having played 188 matches, second only to India’s Sachin Tendulkar in the all-time list. The right-handed bowler remains England’s leading wicket-taker in One Day Internationals (ODIs), with 269 dismissals.

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After announcing his retirement from international cricket in July 2024, tributes poured in from across the cricketing world. Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, even shared a video on social media where he was seen batting in the nets against Anderson.

Anderson will now join a distinguished list of English cricketers who have been knighted, including Sir Alastair Cook, Sir Geoffrey Boycott, and Sir Andrew Strauss.

“Very much so! I think any fast bowler that plays 188 Test matches deserves a knighthood, I’ll put it that way,” said Strauss when asked if Anderson was worthy of the title.

With this honour, Sir James Anderson’s legacy in English cricket is cemented, not just as a record-breaking bowler but as a figure of excellence, and inspiration across generations of cricketers and fans.