England’s record Test wicket-taker James Anderson is set to be knighted for his services to cricket, the Government announced on Friday.
Anderson retired from Test cricket last summer with 704 wickets, holding the record for the most taken by a fast bowler in the format.
He is widely regarded as one of the greatest bowlers in the entire history of the sport, playing more Test matches for England than any other player.
The 42-year-old played 188 Tests, 194 ODIs and 19 T20 internationals for England in an international career which lasted more than two decades.
Anderson, who made his Test debut for England in May 2003, has now been named on Rishi Sunak’s resignation honours list.
He is still playing for Lancashire but missed the start of the County Championship season with a calf issue.
Anderson, though, is adamant he could play another three years to the age of 45.
‘I really want to focus on this year and do as well as I can,’ Anderson said at the start of April.
‘I am not ruling out playing for another one, two or three years. I don’t think you should limit yourself with that.
‘I could get a month in and think ‘absolutely not’ but I could have a great year, we could win everything and they might want to keep me next year so we’ll just have to wait and see.
‘This club is a place I love, they helped me so much at the start of my career and throughout, I feel it’s nice to try and give something back, give myself to them for a season, maybe more.’
Anderson has not played any cricket since his farewell England Test against West Indies at Lord’s last summer.
He has since enjoyed a stint as England’s fast-bowling mentor but is keen to prioritise playing for Lancashire.
Anderson became the oldest player to top the ICC men’s Test bowling rankings in February 2023.
He is one of the few fast bowlers to play at Test match level into his forties.
Anderson was named in the country’s greatest all-time Test XI by the England and Wales Cricket Board in 2018.
He was also part of the England team that won the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2010.
His current deal at Lancashire covers the Vitality Blast, meaning he could make a first appearance in the T20 format since 2014.