‘Nonsense’: England fans filthy over botched bid to wipe Shane Warne from history

England fans are seething after legendary fast bowler Jimmy Anderson was stopped from breaking an iconic Shane Warne record.

Breathe easy, Australian cricket fans.

Jimmy Anderson can’t catch Shane Warne on the all-time Test wicket-taking leaderboard.

In his farewell match against the West Indies at Lord’s, Anderson took one wicket in the first innings and has two scalps in the second innings, taking his tally to 703.

But England debutant Gus Atkinson might have stolen Anderson’s thunder, taking seven wickets in the first innings to cruel the veteran seamer’s hopes of catching Warne.

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With the Windies at 6/79, it’s mathematically impossible for Anderson to overtake Warnie, much to the delight of Aussie cricket tragics.

Anderson went into the match on 700 wickets, needing eight wickets to equal Warne on 708.

Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan holds the all-time record with 800 Test wickets, ahead of Warne, Anderson, Anil Kumble (619) and Stuart Broad (604).

One fan said on X: “Anderson can’t cross Warne!’

Another said: “I think it’s appropriate that Anderson won’t overtake Warne. He’s been brilliant for sure but Warne was better.”

But some salty England fans believe Anderson should actually be ahead of Warne.

One disgruntled punter pointed out the six wickets Warne claimed in a Test against the World XI in 2005 ultimately kept him ahead of Anderson.

They wrote on X: “James Anderson goes past Shane Warne’s 702 Test wickets (against actual countries, not including nonsense World XI matches that should never have Test match status).”

But one fan replied to that tweet: “Didn’t he dismiss Lara, Kallis, Dravid and Sehwag in that game? Perhaps we can celebrate both as legends in their own right.”

James Anderson (left) can’t catch Warnie. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

Anderson has by far the most Test wickets by a fast bowler and remarkably with 188 Test matches, the 41-year-old England legend is seemingly being pushed into retirement as the Poms look to the future.

Earlier this year, the England Cricket Board announced Anderson’s last appearance in England colours would be a farewell Test against the West Indies, that kicks off a three-Test series.

“I still feel as fit as I ever have, like I’m bowling as well as I ever have. I still think I could do a job,” Anderson said ahead of his 188th Test match.

“But at the same time I understand that it has to end at some point. The fact is that it now is just something I’ve got to deal with and accept.”

Anderson’s longevity has led some to argue the ECB erred in pushing him into retirement, especially when he was so close to breaking Warne’s record and a few Aussie hearts in the process.

One England supporter posted on social media: “Just let him play the whole series you horrible bastards.”

Another said: “An all-time great England cricketer, Jimmy Anderson, is being punished for being a team player.

“Jimmy is still playing well and CAN overhaul Warne’s 708 wickets and become the second-highest wicket-taker ever. C’mon, England. Give him a deserved chance!”

What a career, Jimmy. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

Warnie’s record is safe from the Poms. (Photo by David HANCOCK / AFP)

Meanwhile, the West Indies’ plan to acknowledge James Anderson with a guard of honour fell by the wayside after a rare moment of exuberance at Lord’s instead left them celebrating “all the way down to Swiss Cottage” instead.

Anderson walked out to bat on Thursday for what now seems certain to be the final time in his England career — the West Indies were 171 runs behind with just four wickets standing at stumps on the second day.

It has become a tradition for a fielding side to give a guard of honour when a leading opposition cricketer is coming into bat for the final time in a Test.

And that was the West Indies’ intention on Thursday before No. 11 Anderson walked out to a standing ovation from a capacity crowd at Lord’s.

He took the field after a brilliant run out by Mikyle Louis, whose direct hit to dismiss Shoaib Bashir sparked joyous celebrations among the West Indies side.

The Windies were too busy celebrating Mikyle Louis’ run-out to give Anderson a guard of honour. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

By the time Anderson emerged from the Pavilion, only former West Indies captain Jason Holder was on hand to give the 41-year-old veteran a handshake.

“We spoke about it before he came out to bat, that we were going to give him a guard of honour,” said West Indies fast bowler Jayden Seales.

“Obviously the run out took us all the way down to Swiss Cottage (the neighbouring district in northwest London to St John’s Wood, in which Lord’s is located), so it was pretty hard to do the guard of honour for the great man. Luckily, Jason caught up with him.”

Jimmy Anderson is retiring at the top of his game. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Anderson, jokingly nicknamed the ‘Burnley Lara’ in honour of both his birthplace in northwest England and West Indies batting great Brian Lara, didn’t even face a ball on before debutant Jamie Smith was last man out for an assured 70.

“I think the biggest missed opportunity was not seeing Jimmy face one off their left-arm spinner,” said Smith.

“That’s the one regret about my innings. I’m a bit disappointed I couldn’t hit one more six to allow him his moment.

“It’s been an honour play alongside him in my first game. Everyone will miss him when he goes.

“If we’re in a position where he has to bat in the second innings I’d be a bit worried, so hopefully he can get wickets with the ball instead.” Anderson, Ben Stokes and debutant fast bowler Gus Atkinson all took two wickets apiece as the West Indies collapsed to 79-6 at Thursday’s close after slumping to 121 all out in their first innings of this three-match series.

West Indies struggled to make anything like the impact with the bat as Smith, who hit eight fours and two sixes — one of which cleared the Tavern Stand.

“I always like to be aggressive, that’s the way I want to play my cricket — on the front foot.”

With AFP

Originally published as ‘Nonsense’: England fans filthy over botched bid to wipe Shane Warne from history