Arise Sir Jimmy! Even Cook Must Step Aside

Peter Hayter says James Anderson is thoroughly deserving of his place among English peerage and indeed among the world’s cricketing elite

- Peter Hayter

Barring unforeseen circumstances, such as the end of the world for instance, when the umpire calls “play” to start the first Test between England and West Indies in Barbados next week, James Anderson will take his place in the front rank of the undisputed champions of world cricket.

And this should be the signal for those who make such decisions to begin the process of conferring on him the granting of a second knighthood for a current England player in a calendar year.

The 36-year-old leader of England’s attack arrived in the Caribbean having played 145 Test matches, the same number as Shane Warne.

One more and he will add the honour of being the most capped specialist bowler in the history of Test cricket to his long list of extraordinary achievements, and, in the process, add to it by becoming the tenth highest capped Test cricketer of all time.

Lean, fit and, as always, looking hungry for more wickets, only Anderson knows how much he has left to give to get them, but, while playing on until he’s 40 has been mentioned only as a possibility, and maintaining form and fitness cannot be taken for granted – and will not be by him – a moderately bullish estimate of another couple of years taking the new ball would provide him ample opportunity to earn the 17 more Test calls he needs to take him past Sir Alastair Cook’s total of 161 as the most capped England cricketer ever.

Some may say that, as with his former England colleague and captain, it would be better to wait until he finally follows his friend from the international stage before he is summoned to bend the knee at Buckingham Palace.