James Anderson claims seven wickets for Lancashire before England farewell

There is life in the old dog yet. That much was clear as Jimmy Anderson tuned up for his Test swansong next week with a stunning seven for 35 in his first appearance of the season for Lancashire.

Anderson, who turns 42 at the end of this month, announced in April that the series opener against West Indies, which begins next Wednesday, would be his 188th and final Test appearance, bringing the curtain down on a peerless international career.

Based on events at Southport, the gentle nudge into retirement from Brendon McCullum has come too soon. Having not played since March, when he became the first fast bowler to take 700 Test wickets, there was no evidence of ring-rust as he glided through 20 overs’ work against Nottinghamshire. He bowled a stunning opening spell on his way to the second-best figures of his 297-match, 22-year first-class career. He picked up Nottinghamshire’s first six wickets in just 36 balls.

Nathan Lyon, a long-time Ashes rival and now Lancashire colleague, could scarcely believe his luck to be on Anderson’s side.

“To have Jimmy doing what he did this morning was amazing to witness,” said Lyon. “No disrespect to the other bowlers here, but you can just see his class. The extra zip off the wicket, the extra bounce, and that’s before you mention the skills, the ability to go both ways, the wobble seam.

“When I first signed for Lancashire bowling in partnership with Jimmy was one of the big drawcards. I’ve seen it from the other side, but that’s the first time I’ve stood there saying ‘come on Jimmy’. We did have a moment where we said it felt a bit sick saying that, and him saying ‘nice Garry’. That’s the beauty of county cricket, to play with arguably the greatest fast bowler to ever play the game. It’s pretty special.”

It was vintage Anderson on a slow pitch – and well worth the wait for another handsome outground crowd of almost 1,500. Notts had put Lancashire in on Sunday, when the hosts racked up 344 for eight, with captain Keaton Jennings brilliant. After rain washed out Monday’s play, Jennings selflessly declared one over into day three, which was long enough to secure a third batting point, to reach 187 not out, to lose Lyon, and for Anderson to face two balls (no score).

Jennings had wisely recognised that, with thick cloud overhead, Lancashire were more likely to make major progress if Anderson had leather in his hand than willow. He was handsomely rewarded with a quite brilliant new-ball spell of 10 overs – surely more than the England management would have ordered (not that their view matters any more).

After three tight overs to start, Anderson bowled Haseeb Hameed. The former Lancashire and England opener defended carefully under his eyes, only for the ball to spin back onto his stumps. Next was Will Young, the New Zealander, who was caught behind to a ball probing perfectly outside off stump, delivered from wide on the crease. Joe Clarke was frustrated into a big drive, then extra bounce did for Jack Haynes and Lyndon James. Liam Patterson-White edged to fourth slip.

After lunch – which Anderson took with figures of six for 19 – Tom Bailey picked up two wickets in two balls to end hopes of a 10-wicket haul. Anderson then had his new England colleague Dillon Pennington caught in the cordon, his seventh scalp, before a Lyon direct hit ended the innings.

Nottinghamshire followed on, with Lyon picking up both openers – Hameed and Ben Slater, who had carried his bat in the first innings for 64, and but now became Lyon’s 800th in first-class wicket. That he and Anderson are playing together is special: no County Championship XI has ever contained as many Test wickets as this Lancashire team’s 1,230 (700 of them Anderson’s, the rest belonging to Lyon).

This is Lyon’s final game of a stint that has endeared him to the county’s players and fans, and brought 26 wickets at 28.8. It is unclear if Anderson, who has kept his counsel since announcing his retirement, will play again for the county, but this proved he should.

“I am very surprised that England have tapped him on the shoulder and said you’ve got one more Test and that’s it,” said Lyon with a smile. “He’s world-class, probably the best to ever play the game as a fast bowler. His skillset, especially in England, is remarkable. I’ll leave it at that.”