There are some batsmen in cricket who are famous because of their batting partnerships, but no one notices any bowling partners.
So I am going to talk about one of the best bowling partners in the world.
The Stuart Broad-James Anderson is the most lethal pair in Test cricket. After playing together with over a decade, both understand each other’s game. One is the player who uses his swing, especially late swing to destroy a batsman’s mind, and other’s pace and bounce is enough to dismantle opposition.
The duo has been England’s spearhead in Tests for over a decade now and sharing almost 1100 Test scalps between them. 907 wickets are taken by Anderson (475) and Broad (432) in the 117 Tests they have played together, the most by a fast-bowling pair.
If we consider all bowling pairs, only one has taken more wickets playing together – Glenn McGrath (488) and Shane Warne (513) picked up 1001 wickets in 104 Tests. This puts extra pressure on the opposition when they play together in a Test match.
A deadly combination in home conditions
I don’t think that there is any bowling combination better than them under home conditions. They don’t need any extra pace from wickets to get them motivated but use unlimited swing available in the home pitches.
David Warner, Australia’s opening batsman, regarded them as the best exponent of swing and seam bowling.
“They’re both not express pace and to take 900 wickets between them as a pair when playing together is exceptional,” he said.
“When you’re up against them you’ve always got to try to think of ways to rotate strike. Otherwise, if you give them too many overs at you, they’re going to get you out.”
Anderson and Broad have picked 694 wickets together at home, again the most by a fast bowling pair in history. Anderson also holds the record of the only pacer to take 100 wickets in a single venue. He has taken 103 wickets at Lord’s and Broad is just after him with 94 wickets at the same venue.
(Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Future of the duo
Currently, Broad is in the tremendous form which was seen in the last Test match against West Indies, where he picked ten wickets in a match and awarded player of the match as well as player of the series.
Broad was dropped for Mark Wood in the first match in this series, which left him furious and frustrated. His frustration was seen in the series as we saw the new version of Broad and he picked 16 wickets in two matches.
Before this series, there were some talks about the future of the duo and whether it’s time to move on from this pair. After the spectacular 6-31 in the first innings of the third Test, Broad shut down the debate that he and his mate Anderson would retire.
“I don’t ever walk on the field with him and wonder if this is the last time we’ll play together because both of us have a burning desire to keep going,” Broad said.
“I certainly get the feeling when one of us goes, each other will be one of the first people to know. But there’s been no talk of that”.
“Jimmy’s record is getting better and better, as is mine.”
Joe Root also believes that Broad and Anderson are still the best bowlers for England in Tests and wants to play with them in the future.
Both, especially Broad, had a key role in the Wisden Trophy win where he gave England the upper hand with the crucial wickets at a crucial time.
Broad has now joined the elite club of 500 wickets and is the seventh bowler to do so. And Anderson is just 11 wickets away to become the first fast bowler to get 600 Test wickets, which is a big achievement.
Anderson is just turned 38 and is four years older than Broad but still has a burning desire in him and Broad also wants to play until the former’s age, so I don’t see them leaving their responsibilities in the near future.
Paul
Roar Guru
You're right Nudge, but I wonder whether that's down to fitness or other factors as well. Perhaps he's under orders to drop his pace to reduce the chance of injury or maybe to bowl longer spells? I'm only guessing of course, but if he comes to Oz,he needs to be quick across more than one spell per day.
George
Guest
Rubbish. Even discounting Anderson's pivotal role in 2011/12, England have won series in India and SA with both performing well. Not that those series get reported much on The Roar.
Nudge
Roar Rookie
Wood needs to get fitter if he’s going to be a genuine test match threat. He’s quick early but then drops off quickly. Doesn’t have much else to his armour apart from pace. Cummins Starc and to a lesser degree Pattinson are bowling genuine heat still in their third fourth and fifth spell of the day
Gee
Roar Rookie
Great longevity but neither are great bowlers. I have been watching cricket for 30+ years and these two are not in the top 20 of quicks I have seen. Save the magnificent tag for bowlers like McGrath, Steyn & Marshall.
HR
Roar Rookie
He really gives it his all, that's for sure - I recall an interview where he said he just bowls as fast as he can all the time. And you're right - he is genuinely quick. As Michael Holding identified during the first test of this series, the alignment of his front foot is still an issue in his approach to the crease, with the inside of his foot pointed down the wicket. Straightening it out so that it was aligned with his direction of travel might help him avoid further ankle injuries.
HR
Roar Rookie
Yep, they'll need to manage him like Australia managed Pattinson in the last Ashes.
Muhammad Nouman
Roar Pro
As the career moves forward his pace got diminished but at his peak, he used to bowl at 90 mph and the captain didn't doubt to give him the ball in tough conditions.
Muhammad Nouman
Roar Pro
Yeah because nowadays players leave the longer format to increase their career in limited-overs cricket but these two guys stuck to the Test Cricket and made their name in Test Cricket. This is just phenomenal.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Like a lot of other players Muhammad!
Muhammad Nouman
Roar Pro
Yeah, it is true that their effectiveness outside England is not as much as in home conditions
ojp
Guest
I was hoping (for his sake any my viewing enjoyment) that Wood going to a longer approach to the wicket (he used to have a very short run up) would ease the pressure on his body a bit... I've always enjoyed watching the genuine quicks and Wood can certainly produce some heat when hes fit.
Paul
Roar Guru
Agreed. If however he can get through even 4 of the Ashes Tests, he could be a real handful at the Gabba, in Perth and Adelaide at least. Maybe they'll target specific Tests for him to play - assuming he's fit of course!
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Yep tend to agree...also don't ignore that modern batsmen lack patience. They are going after the ball from the get go...hence Nick's, etc. Compare for example Rojers' technique on his last Ashes tour to Warner on his last tour...chalk and cheese. I am certainly not knocking these two fine bowlers but the bulk of their success has come at home against foreign impatient aggressive batsmen...not slow accumulators.
Jak
Guest
Utterly ineffective out of their comfort zone. Out of england, they are barely Sheffield shield level.
HR
Roar Rookie
Indeed - there were so many great West Indian bowlers during that period (and so few tests, relative to today) that they all prevented each other from taking too many wickets.
HR
Roar Rookie
Wood, unfortunately, seems destined for a career cruelled by injury - his action puts a lot of strain on his body, and his build doesn't seem able to withstand it for long.
Censored Often
Roar Rookie
If you take a quick snapshot of famous fast bowling pairs of recent times these guys have pretty good stats but the Windies speedsters are still the king. Marshall/Garner 48 balls per wicket / 21 runs per wicket Marshall/Garner/Holding 49 balls per wicket / 22 runs per wicket Lillee/Thompson 52 balls per wicket / 25 runs per wicket Broad/Anderson 57 balls per wicket / 27 runs per wicket
tauranga boy
Guest
for some reason I never thought much of James Anderson. But a few years ago I was sitting on the grass at the Basin Reserve watching Brendan McCullum muscling his way to a half century and English bowlers had no answers. Then they threw the ball to Anderson. He meant business! Aggressive, confident and determined! He soon had McCullum out and then they ran through the Kiwis' line-up. It may have rained on the final day and was a draw. I think it was Joe Root's first Test. Compton (the younger) was playing. Also Monty Panesar, who made everyone laugh with his fielding clumsiness. But I remember the barmy army chanting "Jimm..ay, Jimm..ay" as he ran in and lifted English spirits. Bloody good bowler!!
Peter Farrar
Roar Pro
I feel lucky to have witnessed these two bowlers. They are just made for English conditions. It's hard to say whether Anderson will make it here for the next ashes. He'll be nudging 40 by then. Still, age is just a number, or so they tell me. Perhaps Archer and Wood at their best on our hard pitches could excel.
Paul
Roar Guru
In English conditions, Woakes certainly comes into his own, as we saw last Test. I think the jury's still out on Archer after that brilliant Ashes last year. Stokes can take wickets anywhere for sure, but I'm not sure how much bowling he will do in the coming years, with those dodgy knees. Wood is the one guy I reckon could pose some real questions in Australian conditions, if Root can manage his workload well and of course, if he's not injured. Broad should tour for sure, but I question whether Anderson will, not because of age, but effectiveness? If the Ashes were in England, no question, he'd be just about the first bowler picked but in Australia?