'I am going to miss him' - tearful James Anderson chokes up in tribute to 'best friend' Alastair Cook

AFP/Getty Images
Standard Sport16 September 2018

James Anderson was overcome with emotion as he paid tribute to his "best mate" Alastair Cook as the former England captain retired from international cricket.

Cook signed off from Test cricket in style at The Oval on Monday, making a century in his final Test innings after announcing his retirement.

Anderson, meanwhile, took his last opportunity to claim a famous piece of history as he completed England's 118-run victory by becoming the world's most successful pace bowler ever on Tuesday.

Anderson had laboured in vain throughout the final day of the Test summer, but was still going strong deep into the evening and clean-bowled India tailender Mohammed Shami to conclude England's 4-1 Specsavers series success.

As the middle-stump cartwheeled backwards behind Shami, it was a moment of course which also took England's all-time leading wicket-taker past Australia great Glenn McGrath to stand alone in fourth place on the all-time Test wicket takers standings with a career tally of 564 - the most for a fast bowler.

Following the victory, Anderson hailed outgoing team-mate Cook as his England career came to a close, but could not stop the tears from flowing on an emotional day.

AFP/Getty Images

Speaking to Sky Sports about his record-breaking wicket, Anderson said: "I’m happy Cookie was on the field to see that wicket. I am just happy to win the game, I wasn’t thinking about it.

"When [Rishabh] Pant and [K.L] Rahul put on that partnership it looked like they may get close so my job was to hold an end up. I didn’t think I’d bowl 14 overs from that end. Thankfully Joe [Root] let me take the new ball eventually which gave me a chance to get that wicket."

When asked about how much he would miss playing cricket with Root, Anderson became tearful and replied: "He is my best mate and he's been brilliant - there for me all the time."

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