James Anderson Makes History as Oldest Pace Bowler to Play Test in India

James Anderson, the veteran England pace bowler, has created history by becoming the oldest pace bowler to play a Test match on Indian soil. At the age of 41 years and 187 days, Anderson achieved this remarkable feat during the second Test against India at the YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam.

In breaking this long-standing record, Anderson surpassed the legendary Indian cricketer Lala Amarnath, who had held the distinction as the oldest pacer to play a Test in India since 1952. Amarnath was 41 years and 92 days old when he played his final Test match against Pakistan at Eden Gardens.

Before Anderson and Amarnath, the list of oldest pacers to play Test cricket in India included notable names such as Ray Lindwall, Shute Banerjee, and Ghulam Guard, who made significant contributions before the cricketing landscape transformed in 1961.

With this achievement, Anderson also secured his place as the fifth oldest player to participate in a Test match in India. The record for the oldest player in a Test in India belongs to Zimbabwe’s John Traicos, who played at the age of 45 years and 304 days in 1993.