Anderson's Mesmerising Spell Captivates Southport Crowd

On Tuesday morning, as Lancashire's captain Keaton Jennings declared, a sharp and focused Jimmy Anderson took the new ball from Southport’s Harrod Drive End. After enduring a two-day wait and a complete washout on Monday, spectators eagerly settled into their seats around the boundary.

Their patience was rewarded rapidly. Anderson's 19th delivery of the English summer, marking his first spell since the Dharamsala Test and his first for Lancashire since May 2023, angled into Haseeb Hameed’s bat and ricocheted onto the stumps. This wicket was just the beginning of an extraordinary opening spell of 10-2-19-6, which left Nottinghamshire in tatters. The crowd fell silent each time Anderson paused at the top of his run-up, only to erupt in cheers with each successive wicket. His final figures of seven for 35 were the best in the Championship all year, and his finest for Lancashire since dismantling Kent with seven for 19 at Old Trafford in 2021.

Lancashire fans, who have celebrated Anderson's feats for England, often yearned to see him more in his county's colours. Birkdale and Southport CC, situated in an affluent area, hosted a diverse group of spectators, different from those expected at Lord’s for Anderson’s international farewell. Some fans missed the start time to save money on off-peak travel from Manchester, while others, like pensioners, enjoyed their Lancashire membership benefits, indulging in scotch eggs, sausage rolls, and pints from the beer tent.

Joan Beaumont, seated under a large umbrella with immaculate red nail varnish, shared, "I’ve been here for four days because my son treated me to all four tickets to see Jimmy Anderson. I was lucky enough to witness him take six wickets for 19 runs. It was absolutely amazing."

Katie Bishop, who became a cricket fan only four years ago, recalled, "My friend and my husband sat here all day in the rain on Monday, but we did manage to meet Jimmy. We told him, ‘Hello Jimmy, you’re amazing,’ and he replied, ‘Oh’ – so we had a true Jimmy experience. I like to think we motivated him to take those wickets.”

Nearby, on the bank by the scoreboard, Jane Chmielowski, with a blanket over her knee, sat with her husband, Stefan. "We’re local and come every year to see Lancashire at Southport. Watching Jimmy was a real joy; you can see why he has so many Test wickets. I’ve supported Lancashire since the 1970s, during the Jack Simmons era. Jimmy's probably the best we’ve had."

Lewis and Tom, visiting from Australia and playing for Ormskirk CC, acknowledged, "He’s probably the best swing bowler to ever do it," while Philip Derbyshire, enjoying a strawberry ice-cream, added, "I reckon he’s the greatest. He has perfected his craft over the years and kept himself incredibly fit."

Nathan Lyon, Anderson’s old rival and current teammate, humorously expressed surprise that the selectors had ended Anderson’s Test career. Brian Warbrick, who travelled from Urmston, commented, "It’s a shame he hasn’t played more for Lancashire. It would be great to see him play one more season. Considering his record for England, it’s surprising the selectors have decided this is his swan song. Lord’s next week is secondary for me."

The final farewell at Southport came when the players shook hands on a draw just before five o’clock. The devoted spectators who stayed until the end warmly applauded Anderson as he doffed his cap and walked into the pavilion, possibly for the last time.