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England v West Indies: James Anderson takes 7-42 as England win the Third Test and the series 2-1
James Anderson produced new career-best figures of seven for 42 as England romped to a nine-wicket victory over West Indies in the third Test at Lord's, which clinched the series 2-1.
England v West Indies: Third Test scores
England win by 9 wickets
West Indies 1st innings: 123 all out (Powell 39; Stokes 6-22, Anderson 2-31, Roland-Jones 2-32)
West Indies 2nd innings: 177 (S Hope 62, Powell 45; Anderson 7-42)
England 1st innings: 194 (Stokes 60, Broad 38; Roach 5-72, Holder 4-54)
England 2nd innings: 107-1 (Westley 44no, Stoneman 40no)
Day three report
James Anderson celebrated his 500-wicket landmark with new career-best figures of seven for 42 as England completed a series-sealing win over West Indies in the third Investec Test at Lord's.
And there was also good news for those who followed our Dave Tickner's cricket tip of Ben Stokes to be man-of-the-match at 9/1, with the all-rounder's first-innings contribution with the bat and ball (60 & 6-22) sealing the prize despite Anderson's heroics.
Anderson was rampant as the tourists were bowled out for 177 on day three, despite a determined and skilful hand from Shai Hope (62), and England duly knocked off 107 to deliver victory by nine wickets and a second series success for Joe Root in his maiden summer as captain.
After Anderson's momentous milestone the previous evening, he came up with two more early strikes on the resumption – and then two wickets in three balls straight after lunch, starting with Hope, broke the Windies' resistance as they lost their last four for only 22 runs.
England then took 28 overs to make light of a soft target in fine batting conditions, albeit in a low-scoring match, and claim the series 2-1 just before a slightly delayed tea.
Sky Bet reaction
If you've been impressed by England's Test side this summer then you can back them at 9/4 to win the Ashes series this summer while Australia will start as 8/13 favourites, with a drawn series priced at 6/1.
A 5-0 whitewash for Australia is 14/1 but if you think Joe Root's side can achieve that feat then you can have 66/1!
England's next assignment is the one-off Twenty20 clash against West Indies next Saturday. The hosts are marginal 4/6 favourites to triumph while the tourists are 6/5 in what should be a thrilling battle.
After that is the five-match ODI series which England are 1/4 to win, with West Indies priced at 3/1.
Day three reaction
Joe Root on England's Ashes hopes: "It has been great. We've played some really good stuff this summer. There were two difficult weeks, but what is most pleasing is the resilience and character to come back from both of those with two extra strong performances. That is great to see for what is going to be a very challenging winter."
"Plenty of challenges lie ahead - but with those challenges come great opportunities. We should not be afraid of going over there (to Australia), performing at our best and (trying to) do something special. We have all the attributes to go down there and put in a strong performance and get good results."
"I'm extremely happy with the way the whole group is shaping up. Across the summer, a number of guys have stepped up and taken their games forward. Guys that have been settled in the team keep kicking on and contributing consistently, and making themselves more of a presence in world cricket.
"A number of guys have stood up, coming into the Test arena."
On James Anderson's season: "He does [seem to be bowling better than ever]. He said at start of the summer he is desperate to carry on while he can, and this year has shown what he is still capable of. Putting in his career-best figures shows he is still desperate to kick on and do more great things in this game.
"This summer he has come back...and he is one of most skilful bowlers I have ever played with. The control he has when the ball is doing a minimal amount, or when it is hooping around, is remarkable - he can find the optimum amount of pace to work on different surfaces and put real pressure on the batters. This summer has been unreal for him, but I wouldn't say I'm surprised how it has turned out."
Jason Holder: "It is not overall disappointment" and insists West Indies "have got the best of the lot right now" in their team, despite the reported possibility that a clutch of famous players such as Chris Gayle may soon be ready to return in Test cricket as well as for limited-overs campaigns. I think we've got a lot to be proud of.
"Credit must go to our bowlers ... and obviously Shai (Hope) was outstanding in this entire series, and Kraigg [Brathwaite] did a hell of a job too - especially at Headingley. Unfortunately, we didn't get more batsmen to carry on. Lots got starts ... and we let ourselves down by dropping quite a few chances and giving good players two opportunities to bat."
Day two report
James Anderson's 500th Test wicket provided the long-anticipated landmark moment Lord's craved as England held the advantage in a tense, low-scoring match against West Indies.
Anderson was left stranded on 499 as Ben Stokes' career-best six-wicket haul consigned the Windies' first innings to 123 all out.
But after Stokes had then hit 60 runs for good measure to help eke out a lead of 71, Anderson wasted no time second time round when he clean-bowled opener Kraigg Brathwaite in just his second over as the tourists reached 93 for three at the close of a rain-shortened day two.
The 35-year-old has therefore reached elite global company, one of just six bowlers in the all-time list with 500 to his name - and as soon as he did so, he raised his right arm to salute the crowd and then ran to his former captain Alastair Cook in the slips to begin his celebrations.
He has joined two seam-bowling greats, Australia's Glenn McGrath and West Indies' Courtney Walsh, in the 500 club - with Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan top of the pile on an astounding 800 wickets and Shane Warne and Anil Kumble also above the pace trio.
There is an extra symmetry to Anderson's achievement, because it came on the same ground where he took his first Test wicket on debut - Zimbabwe opener Mark Vermeulen, also bowled, on the way to figures of five for 73 in May 2003.
Day two reaction
James Anderson on taking his 500th Test wicket: "It's a bit surreal. I can't quite believe I've got this many wickets or played as much cricket as I have. I'm more relieved to get to get it out of the way, to be honest.
"I wanted to get it out of the way, like I said, ideally (on Thursday). To get it early on in this innings was a good moment for me.
"It's such a great place to bowl, is Lord's. It's such a special place for me - to get my first wicket and 500th here will live with me a long time.
"I've got my family and friends here to make it even more special."
Windies bowler Kemar Roach on getting on the Lord's honours board after his five for 72: "It means a lot. There are a lot of [West Indies] players before me - Courtney Walsh, Malcolm Marshall - to be a part of that is an amazing feeling.
"A lot of players have come here and never got it done. So to be part of that board, it's history and it's about going forward as a cricketer, getting better and (trying to) do it again."
Day one report
Ben Stokes hijacked James Anderson's headlines as West Indies were bowled out for 123 and England's all-time leading wicket-taker was left tantalisingly on 499 after a manic first day at Lord's.
Anderson was responsible for the first two after the Windies chose to bat first in this decisive final Test of an Investec series locked at 1-1, but second-change Stokes took over in an irresistible and tireless spell for career-best figures of 14.3-6-22-6.
However, Alastair Cook (10), Mark Stoneman (1), Tom Westley (8) and captain Joe Root (1) all fell cheaply as England closed on 46-4, still 77 runs with six wickets remaining.
Anderson began proceedings by making short work of opener Kraigg Brathwaite and then Kyle Hope in his quest to become the first Englishman to 500 Test wickets.
But after that it was all about Stokes from the nursery end as he took the last six of seven to fall for 45 runs.
The change of innings merely brought more angst for batsmen, Kemar Roach bagging both England openers caught-behind with more lateral movement and Tom Westley lbw to one from Jason Holder that nipped up the slope.
Root then put his opposite number on a hat-trick when he flashed a sharp catch to Kieran Powell at slip, before Stokes had to demonstrate his all-rounder status to preclude further drama alongside Dawid Malan.
Day one reaction
Ben Stokes on whether this was the best he has ever bowled in Test cricket: "Yes, I think so. It was obviously swinging when I got the ball in my hands - and when it does swing like that, it's a good opportunity just to run up and know it's going to do something.
"Rooty let me bowl for a long time, which I quite enjoy doing. Jimmy and I were a bit confused at one point, because he came to take his stuff off but I already had my hat and jumper off - and Joe just said 'Oh, keep going'. Then after that, he just told me 'Keep going after the break as well'.
"I hope it's a starting point and I can start producing some better performances with the ball. I've felt the last three or four weeks I was getting back to more consistency with my action but not quite producing what I wanted to (in the middle) ... and I was letting the team down a little bit. But to go out there and bowl the way I did today was a monkey off my back."
On bowling coach Ottis Gibson, who is in the last match of his second stint with England before leaving to take charge of South Africa: "The hard work contributes towards success, which is why I gave a little wave up to Gibbo - he's helped me over the last six or seven weeks. He's put loads of hours in with technical stuff, bowling in the mornings. If it wasn't for him, I'm not sure I'd have had a day like I did today.
"Obviously at Lord's, the home of cricket, to be on one honours board (is great) ... no one can take it away from you - and I'll always be able to say I'm on there through batting and bowling."
On James Anderson: "That over he bowled to Bishoo was the best over in the history of Test cricket not to get a wicket. I've got no idea how he didn't manage to get one. But he's got another crack at getting the big 500, and I'm sure he will. He's been a class performer, and I hope I'm on the pitch when he manages to get it."