Brian Lara Ignores Jasprit Bumrah, Picks England Star As ‘Greatest Fast Bowler To Ever Play The Game’

Former West Indies captain and legendary batter Brian Lara has reserved big praise for England pacer James Anderson by calling the 41-year-old cricketer the greatest fast bowler to ever play the game. The legendary English seamer, who has picked up 700 wickets in 187 Tests played so far, is set to bring an end to his more than two-decade-long international career next week. The first Test of the three-match series between England and the West Indies at Lord’s, which starts on July 10, will be Anderson’s last match as an English cricketer.

Ahead of Anderson’s farewell Test, Lara, who is one of the greatest batters of all time, praised Anderson by calling him the greatest ever fast bowler and saying he has the respect of the world.

“He is the greatest fast bowler that has ever played the game. His numbers are incredible, and he has served England well. I know he did not have that in mind (retiring from cricket), but I think he has accepted it. If that is the choice of his captain, coach, and selectors, then so be it,” Lara told Sky Sports.

“He has had a tremendous career for England. There are not many England cricketers who come close to Anderson (when asked about Anderson’s legacy). He has taken the most Test wickets as a fast bowler and had a career that lasted for over 23 years. I think only Courtney Walsh comes close to him in terms of the number of years he has played, but his legacy is going to be tremendous, and I think as an English cricketer, he has the respect of the world,” he added.

Anderson made his Test debut for England against Zimbabwe at Lord’s on May 22, 2003, and picked up a five-wicket haul in the first innings. He finished the match with figures of 5/73 and 0/65.

The right-arm pacer is the first pacer and third bowler overall to dismiss 700 or more batters in the five-day format of the game. During the first Test between England and the West Indies, he will have a chance to break former Australian spinner Shane Warne’s record of 708 wickets and finish his career as the second-highest wicket-taker in Tests.