Ex-England captains celebrate 20 years of Anderson heroics ahead of Ashes
For 20 years James Anderson has been taking Test match wickets for England.
He has mastered the art of fast medium swing bowling and no Englishman has played more matches, taken more wickets or stared down more batters than Anderson.
And he will be looking to add to his tally when the Ashes gets underway against Australia at Edgbaston later this week.
Mirror Sport sat down with Michael Vaughan, Sir Alastair Cook and Joe Root, three of his captains, to try and find out a bit more about the man who is approaching his 10th Ashes series and his 41st birthday.
What is your description of Jimmy?
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Joe Root: “A brilliant servant to the game, and to English cricket. What he's put his body through, the amount of time and energy that he's given to this team and the performances that he's put in on the field have been exceptional.
Michael Vaughan: “The most skilful bowler we have seen, with the ability and the dedication to keep adding to it.
Alastair Cook: “I’d say he was the most naturally gifted sportsman I’ve played with. He has also worked bloody hard at his game, but tennis, golf, football you name it, he’s good at it."
Cook and Anderson are England's leading batter and bowler in Test cricket (Getty)What is it like playing AGAINST him?
MV: “It’s hard! I remember playing against him later in my career, trying to hit those massive out-swingers at Old Trafford, and since then he has added more and more to his armoury. And the pace has always been quick enough.
AC: “When I played against him to begin with he abused the hell out of me, but he generally backed it up with his skill. The quick outswinger has always been there, but now he has the inswinger, the wobble seam and other subtle variations.
JR: “The first time I played against him I was batting with Joe Sayers at Liverpool and he was struggling a bit. Jimmy walked past me at the non-striker's and said 'go up there and teach this guy how to bat, he's useless'. I finally got on strike. I play and miss at a couple and he says 'Forget what I said, you're just as bad.'
Anderson speaks with former England captain Vaughan (Stu Forster)Is he the definition of 'the grumpy fast bowler' then?
JR: “On the pitch maybe. He is extremely competitive and has worked out how to get the best out of himself in a game and that can be quite aggressive. But off it he's a great man to be around. He is a really nurturing guy especially with the younger fast bowlers. He is also very funny.
AC: “On the face of it the two of us are poles apart but actually deep down we are very similar characters. We can be quite quiet, quite introverted, but knowing our own minds and where we want to get to. We've shared a lot of good, bad and average times together and the friendship is stronger for that.
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MV: “I have been around Jimmy a lot, but I don’t really know him. Like his bowling, he gives nothing away and keeps a bit of mystery about him. All the great sportspeople have a bit of mystery, Messi, Ronaldo, and I think Jimmy is a bit like that.
How important will he be against the Aussies?
JR: “He is still one of the leading players in the world and you want him with the ball in his hand against Australia as much as possible. For him to have only bowled four overs in the Ashes in 2019 left a huge hole.
AC: “He’s absolutely crucial. Ben Stokes can throw him the ball and just know he can attack from the start. Having that kind of reassurance is easier said than done, but Jimmy gives that to the captain.
MV: “Jimmy could cause the Aussies problems with his eyes shut. He has grooved his skill through repetition and hard work and he will deliver what the captain wants. That is so valuable.”
Root and Anderson were captain and vice-captain on the Ashes tour in 2017/18 (AFP via Getty Images)Do you think the partnership with Broad has helped him?
MV: “Don't underestimate how much they've done for each other. I think he needed Stuart. Great combinations generally need a brother up the other end. Egging each other on, talking bowling, being close, having some honest conversations about the mental side.
AC: “That our two leading Test appearances have come from our opening bowlers is extraordinary. They have complimented each other, driven each other on and I feel fortunate to have captained them.
JR: "So much of our success in recent years has been built around these two and we're lucky they still have a bit more to give."
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