Flintoff: Anderson an England great
ByPA Sport
Published 17/04/2015 at 20:16 GMT
Andrew Flintoff is delighted record-breaker James Anderson stands alone as England's leading Test wicket-taker - and believes his fellow Lancastrian can scale even further heights in years to come.
Andrew Flintoff, pictured, is delighted for James Anderson, who has become England's all-time leading Test wicket-taker
Image credit: PA Sport
Flintoff still recalls the diffident but determined teenager who bustled up his prospective new team-mates with bouncers in the Old Trafford indoor nets.
Anderson has gone on to surpass the great Sir Ian Botham as his country's most prolific Test bowler - and at 32 still has it in him, according to his former Lancashire and England colleague, to move up the all-time global charts.
Among fast bowlers, he is already in the top 10 - albeit well adrift of Glenn McGrath's record 563 wickets - but Flintoff is convinced Anderson will eventually belong in that elite company.
"He's an England great now," said Flintoff.
"However, he could end up being one of the best ever to play Test cricket ... put up there with the likes of Glenn McGrath, Wasim Akram, Dennis Lillee.
"I think that will be an amazing achievement for Jimmy ... and it's hard not to be happy for him as well, because he is such a good lad.
"He's a lad from Burnley [who has become] England's best ever bowler.
"I can't imagine he wants to stop there (either)."
Anderson took the eye immediately when he arrived at Lancashire 13 years ago, but has had to work for his rewards and come through injuries as well as mid-career spells simply out of favour with the England management.
Flintoff added: "He burst on to the scene and came into the Lancashire nets, bowling quick, and upsetting all the lads because he kept bowling bouncers inside - and that's a no-no.
"Everyone thought then 'this lad's going to be good', but not as good as he is.
"It's not been an easy ride for Jimmy. He's had problems where people have tried to change his action; he's had injuries.
"But he's always come back from them, and if you look at him now he probably looks as fit as he did when he was 21.
"That's a credit to him."
Flintoff is impressed Anderson has retained his motivation, as well as his fitness.
"He might not be the most vocal person ... but the fire's burning within," he said.
"He's on it all the time; he's a passionate player, whether for Lancashire or England."
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