1 Brendon McCullum – Trent Bridge 2008
Anderson’s “second coming” in international cricket began during the 2-1 victory in New Zealand when he removed their first five batsmen on his recall to the side in Wellington. It was cemented in the summer’s follow-up victory at home to the Kiwis with a career-best seven for 43 in the third Test. Among the carnage was the detonation of McCullum’s off-stump – a ball that angled in and then nipped away as the right-hander went to clip it through leg.
2 Ricky Ponting – Adelaide 2010
Anderson compounded a miserable start for Australia in the second Test (Simon Katich had been run out from the fourth ball of the match through Jonathan Trott’s direct hit) when a classic outswinger to Ponting first up was edged to Graeme Swann at second slip. One suspects Ponting’s thoughts rhymed with “golden duck” and from none for two (0.5 overs) there was no coming back. Anderson would end the 3-1 series win as the leading wicket-taker with 24.
3 Sachin Tendulkar – Kolkata 2012
No bowler got the better of the “Little Master” in his Test career more than Anderson’s nine dismissals, the eighth of which came at Eden Gardens as Tendulkar, on 76 in India’s first innings, prodded forward to a ball that held its line and diving wicketkeeper Matt Prior clung on. It was the first of a six-wicket Test by a player written off by many in subcontinental conditions. The tourists went 2-1 up – a lead they would hold for their first series win in India for 27 years.
4 Michael Clarke – Trent Bridge 2013
Nestled within a 10-wicket performance on his happiest hunting ground at Nottingham – one that secured a 1-0 Ashes advantage for England through a nerve-tingling 14-run triumph – was a peach of a delivery to remove Australia’s captain in their first innings. Clarke, who fell nine times to Anderson in Tests, moved to defend a ball shaping into his stumps, only for a smidgeon of seam movement to beat the outside edge and see off-stump kissed.
5 Denesh Ramdin – Antigua 2015
A leg-cutter fenced to first slip through a defensive shot sent the West Indies wicketkeeper on his way – not the highest-profile scalp but the big one nevertheless, taking Anderson past Sir Ian Botham’s 383 Test wickets to become England’s most prolific bowler of all time. Beefy led the celebrations from the commentary box at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium before pledging to hand over “the largest bottle of wine I could find” to his successor.
