‘James Anderson is the greatest fast bowler to play the game’: Ben Stokes | Cricket News

689 wickets from 182 Test matches in a career spanning across 20 years. It’s hard to look past James Anderson as the greatest Test pacer ever – he is, after all, leading the tally in terms of wicket taking. England skipper Ben Stokes also has no qualms over terming his most experienced pacer as the G.O.A.T.
“James Anderson is the greatest fast bowler to play the game,” Stokes told reporters ahead of the fifth Ashes Test. “And he’s still looking as good as he was two years ago, although he hasn’t had the impact he would have liked in this series.”
When asked of the other greats in the Test cricket arena such as Dale Steyn, Curtly Ambrose and Glenn McGrath, Stokes said, “I only faced Steyn. I didn’t face McGrath, I didn’t face the other guys. I’ve faced a lot of them, been on the field a lot with them and nearly 700 Test wickets, I think is phenomenal to do it and all around the world as well. Everyone’s got an opinion on those kinds of things and in my opinion James Anderson is the greatest bowler to play the game.”
Despite claiming only four wickets in three Test matches this Ashes, Anderson found his place in the playing XI for the fifth and final Ashes Test starting at The Oval from Thursday, July 27.

His long time pace partner and only the second pacer to pick 600 wickets in the longest format, Stuart Broad was also added to the lineup. The right-arm medium pacer, who crossed the aforementioned milestone during the Manchester Test, is also the leading wicket taker in the ongoing Ashes series with 18 scalps.
On Broad, the England skipper said, “It was always going to be hard for one bowler to play every game this series, but he’s been incredible for us. He’s put in some incredible performances throughout Test matches, but he’s also been very good at coming on with the ball and changing the game numerous times, which is something he’s done his whole career.”

“Being the leading wicket taker, it’s very hard to look past someone like that. At 37 years old it’s a testament to how much work he puts in off the field to keep playing for England,” Stokes added.