"We were going to give him a guard of honor" - Jayden Seales on how Mikyle Louis' direct hit ruined planned tribute for James Anderson
West Indies pacer Jayden Seales has revealed how celebrations that sparked following Mikyle Louis' direct hit to dismiss Shoaib Bashir prevented a guard of honor for the legendary James Anderson in his final Test. Anderson came out to bat for potentially the final time in his career on Day 2 of the series opener at Lord's on Thursday, July 11.
The visitors were struggling to clear the tail as England were amassing a massive first-innings lead. Debutant Jamie Smith was motoring along at one end while Shoaib Bashir was holding the other, playing 17 balls without getting off the mark.
Smith had heaved Seales' full delivery, but could only get the ball to deep cover, where Louis ran in. While he could not reach in time to claim a catch, he executed a rocket throw at the non-striker's end from the deep and executed a direct hit. Bashir was short of his crease while trying to attempt the second run.
The West Indies team wildly celebrated the incredible piece of fielding, and James Anderson proceeded to make his to the middle amid a rousing reception by the Lord's crowd. Although the Windies players joined in, they were scattered on the field instead of the planned guard of honor.
"We spoke about it before he came out to bat, that we were going to give him a guard of honour. Obviously the run out took us all the way down to Swiss Cottage, so it was pretty hard to do the guard of honour for the great man. Luckily, Jason caught up with him," Seales said during the press conference after Day 2.
Anderson remained stranded at the non-striker's end and could not face a single delivery in his final-ever outing with the bat.
Seales was Anderson's sole wicket in the first innings when the West Indies were bundled out for 121 on Day 1 after being put into bat first.
"I think the biggest missed opportunity was not seeing Jimmy face one of their left-arm spinner" - Jamie Smith on James Anderson not getting to face a ball
Seales dismissed Smith off the final delivery of the over to bring England's innings to a close. Anderson remained at the non-striker's end for four deliveries and would have got the strike had Smith fended off one more ball.
"I think the biggest missed opportunity was not seeing Jimmy face one of their left-arm spinner. That's the one regret about my innings. I'm a bit disappointed I couldn't hit one more six to allow him his moment. It's been an honour to play alongside him in my first game. Everyone will miss him when he goes. If we're in a position where he has to bat in the second innings, I'd be a bit worried, so hopefully he can get wickets with the ball instead," Smith said at the end of the day's play.
After amassing 371 runs, England attained a sizeable first-innings lead of 250 runs. At stumps on Day 2, West Indies are tottering at 79-6 and are staring at an innings defeat.