Jimmy Anderson gave England a glimpse of what they will be missing when he is put out to pasture after the Lord’s Test next week, taking seven wickets for 35 for Lancashire against Nottinghamshire – the best bowling figures in the County Championship this year – in his first game for four months.
Anderson, 41, had not played since the innings defeat by India in Dharamsala in March that brought his 700th Test wicket. In May he confirmed the first Test against West Indies would be his 188th and last. But in Southport on Tuesday he fell straight back into the groove of excellence delivered with devilish control. It all left his long-time Australian adversary turned Lancashire teammate Nathan Lyon aiming a dig in the direction of the England selectors.
