Alastair Cook has urged England to “cherish” James Anderson while he is playing for them.
Anderson, newly his country’s top Test wicket-taker, was almost solely responsible for turning the Grenada Test on its head during the morning session on an enthralling last day.
The 32-year-old seamer, playing in his 101st Test, capitalised on the second new ball with three wickets in four personal overs on a lifeless pitch before adding two catches and a stunning run-out.
That all contributed to West Indies slumping from 202 for two overnight to 307 all out, leaving a target of 143 that the tourists comfortably knocked off with nine wickets and time to spare through Cook and Gary Ballance.
Speaking exclusively to ecb.co.uk about Anderson, Cook said:“He’s an incredible cricketer. We’re incredibly lucky to have him and to have him playing really.
“We’ve got to cherish the moment every time Jimmy is fit enough to play for England, and (we) still do.
“That spell, I think it was nine overs in plus-30-degree-heat after bowling how many overs over the last eight days was a great effort. It was a real game-changer, that spell of bowling today.”
England’s win seemed highly unlikely before the start of play on day five, having taken just two West Indies wickets in 75 overs on the previous day.
Cook reflected on the entire Test, from winning the toss in humid conditions, to Joe Root’s man-of-the-match 182 not out and Ballance’s two fifties, not to mention Cook matching Ballance’s feat.
England 1-0! #WIvEngpic.twitter.com/FGxjP0V40b
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) April 25, 2015
“We had a bit of luck with winning the toss,” he added.
“We had the best of that first day. We didn’t quite get it right there, but those last 120 overs of bowling was pretty much what we’ve done all tour, been very disciplined, very patient, (bowling) shortish spells and trying to put the ball in the right areas and trying to force a result and force a wicket by pressure. It doesn’t always work. A few of their guys played incredibly well.
“We’re very happy with that. Rooty has kind of gone unmentioned. He’s got 180 not out, continues his amazing run of form. Gary’s continuing his run-making. It’s a privilege to watch these guys come into the team and play that way.”