Wasim Akram: "For me James Anderson is the best bowler of this era"

Former Pakistani great Wasim Akram has called England‘s James Anderson as the best bowler in the world.

Anderson is only behind Ian Botham and Bob Willis in the all-time highest wicket takers list for England in Test Match cricket, having a tally of 320 wickets.

In the ongoing Ashes he has already taken 13 wickets from the first two Test matches and has looked the best bowler from either side.

“Jimmy Anderson is leading from the front. For me he is the best bowler of this era,” Akram told BBC Sport. 

“He does it consistently, with the new ball and the old ball.”

Akram recognised the talent possessed by Anderson with the old ball and said ,”Jimmy is up there with me and Waqar (Younis) because of the control he has.

The International Cricket Council’s ratings for bowlers in Test cricket has placed Jimmy Anderson at fifth and South Africa’s Dale Steyn at the number one spot.

Anderson has an average of 29.66 in Test cricket, which is much lower when compared to Steyn, who has an average of 22.65. But Anderson has done significantly better in the past year taking 32 wickets in seven Tests at 23.12.