OTD in 2003: James Anderson made his Test debut

On this day, right-arm pacer James Anderson made his Test debut against Zimbabwe in 2003 at Lord’s. 

After picking a total of 46 wickets in 12 matches in the 2002 County Championship, Anderson was finally given an opportunity in the home series against Zimbabwe.

England batted first and posted a score of 472 in the first innings.

On the back of 137 from Mark Butcher and half-centuries from Marcus Trescothick, Ashley Giles, and Antony McGrath, England posted a healthy 472 in the first innings. For Zimbabwe, Heath Streak and Andy Blignaut picked three wickets each. 

Anderson shared the new ball with Matthew Hoggard. Despite getting hit for 17 runs off his first over, he made a comeback by bowling a peach of a delivery and picked a maiden wicket by breaking the defence of opener Mark Vermeulen. 

As the day progressed, Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison were the key wicket-takers for the home team. 

In the 51st over of the innings, the then 20-year-old delivered an outswinger to captain Heath Streak and sent him packing. He followed it up with another pearler to dismiss Travis Friend in the next ball.

His next two came with a second slip catch to Butcher and another bowled dismissal to Douglas Hondo. Anderson then finished up with figures of 5/73 off 16 overs, which helped the hosts dismiss Zimbabwe for 147. 

In the second innings, he went wicket-less, with Butcher and McGrath picking up 4 and 3 wickets, respectively. The home team secured a victory by an innings and 92 runs. 

Fast-forward 19 years later, Anderson is the leading wicket-taker for England in the Test format with 640 wickets in 169 appearances.