England's greatest ever fast bowler: Gillespie on Anderson

BEN STOKES is on the edge of the Lord's balcony, egging on James Anderson.

- GOMESH S

And so are the thousands of fans at the iconic venue. It had been the norm for the better part of the last two decades, but Friday was different. They were not cheering for Anderson to run in and deliver a perfect outswinger there to take the outside edge of the batter at the other end. That part of his life is done and dusted. Here, Anderson walked out with a full glass of Guinness as the fans stood on the outfield, singing 'Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy Anderson'. He chugged it in one go for one last time in an England shirt before raising the glass. After that, he walked back into the dressing room.

A sun had set. A 21-year-old long career had come to an end.

For those mortals on the outfield looking on as Anderson exited the balcony, it was not just about 188 Tests, 704 wickets and the 40,000 odd legal deliveries he had bowled for England in whites. It was so much more. A celebration of someone who had been an integral part of their life in this century.