Ben Stokes Celebrates James Anderson As 'GOAT' In Cricket Following Victory

Ben Stokes described Gus Atkinson's debut in the England Test as "unbelievable" and praised James Anderson, calling him "one of the GOATs" of English cricket. Stokes led England to a decisive victory over the West Indies at Lord's on Friday, winning by an innings and 114 runs.

James Anderson concluded his illustrious career in style by bowling out Joshua Da Silva for his 704th and final wicket for England. Reflecting on Anderson's retirement, Stokes said, "A lot of people turned up to watch us but it was great to send Jimmy off the way he deserves."

Stokes further added, "We weren't quite banking on it to finish on day three but it is an amazing crowd. He is one of the 'GOATs' of English cricket." Anderson's farewell was marked by a memorable performance, although he missed taking the last wicket like his close friend Stuart Broad.

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Meanwhile, Gus Atkinson became just the 19th male player to take a 10-fer on his Test match debut. His figures of 12-106 are the fourth-best anyone has managed in their first match. The Surrey fast bowler claimed the final wicket on Friday to cap off a memorable debut.

Praising Atkinson, Stokes said, "Unbelievable. The first time I saw him in person was against India at the World Cup. I had seen him on TV before but when you observe someone in person you get an understanding."

"He isn't just about out-and-out pace; he has skill as well. His ceiling is so high," Stokes continued. He also mentioned Jamie Smith, noting that both players had excellent debuts.

The match ended sooner than expected, with fans witnessing both a historic debut and a legendary farewell. Stokes highlighted that no one would lose sleep over Anderson dropping the last catch since it was his own doing.

The combination of Atkinson's impressive start and Anderson's fitting end made this Test match unforgettable for both players and fans alike.