ENG vs WI | Anderson ends on 704 as Atkinson's 12 seals perfect farewell with innings triumph

With the hard yards over the first two days having culminated in an indisputably winning position heading into Day 3, England could focus on dedicating the occasion to the retiring James Anderson as they gave the 41-year-old a rousing guard of honour along with their West Indian counterparts to begin the day's proceedings.

However, once business began, the veteran returned the compliment by having Joshua da Silva caught behind with a jaffa that moved just enough across the line to square up the wicket-keeper batter. Gus Atkinson thereafter announced himself again by scalping the two Josephs, Alzarri and Shamar, in successive overs with a bouncer and yorker respectively as the overnight score of 76/6 became 103/9. Anderson had the chance to bag a four-wicket haul and end his Test career with 105 scalps when Gudakesh Motie offered him a sharp return catch but the right-arm quick spurned the opportunity. The tailender grasped onto his second lifeline with a valiant display, smacking a few boundaries to become the inning's top scorer with 31 in an 11th-wicket partnership of 33, before Atkinson completed his second five-wicket haul of the encounter by having Jayden Seales holed out at midwicket. The debutant thus ended with match figures of 12/106, the second best by an Englishman in Test history, while Anderson led the team off to bring an end to a historic day of cricket at Lord's.

— Gill Bill (@bill_gill76078) 

True inspiration

Thank You,

Sir James Anderson

In this era of T20, You made us fall in love with Test Cricket.   

— SHIVDATT (@SHIVDATTSINHSO3) 

Emotional momemts

WICKET NUMBER 704 FOR JAMES ANDERSON 🔥



- He is ruling his final test...!!!! 

— Malik Hammad (@Hammad_Iqbal786) 

Great career

End of the magnificent career of James Anderson with 704 test wickets 👏 

— Shahzaib Ali 🇵🇰 (@DSBcricket)