Anderson holds back tears as he bows out for England

James Anderson has bowled his final ball in Test cricket. After 22 years of international cricket, his impressive career came to an end yesterday.

- SONIA TWIGG

Before this week's Test match, he insisted that he felt as good as he ever had, and there was no marked difference against the West Indies. He took four wickets for 58 runs, and proved he still has a part to play.

On the final morning of the Test, Anderson came onto the field to a guard of honour from both sets of players and the England coaching staff. He looked emotional and later spoke about "trying to hold back the tears".

He struck in his second over of the day, as Joshua Da Silva was caught behind with a beautiful outswinger. The wicketkeeper-batter had tried to flick it into the leg side and the ball caught the edge and went safely into the gloves of Jamie Smith.

However, there was a final twist in the story. England needed one wicket, and Anderson was bowling from the Nursery End when the ball was driven back at him by Gudakesh Motie. He went one-handed and spilled the catch.

Gus Atkinson took 12 match wickets on his debut, but it was Anderson who led the side off the field to a standing ovation, as England won by an innings and 114 runs.