James Anderson: Top 5 bowling performances in Test Cricket at Lord's

James Anderson is one of the greatest bowlers of all time in test cricket. He is currently fifth on the list of highest wicket-takers in tests. He is a nightmare to batsmen on any day and only few can claim to have got the better of him.

In 142 tests, Anderson has 557 scalps to his name at an average of 26.89. He has picked up more than 5 wickets in an innings on 26 occasions and more than 10 wickets in a match on 3 occasions. When he finishes his career, he will go down as one of the finest fast-bowlers to ever play the sport.

Anderson played 23 test matches at Lord's and has picked up 103 wickets. It is safe to say it is one of his most favourite grounds. We look at his top 5 bowling performances in tests at the Mecca of Cricket.

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#5 5/65 vs India, 2011

England v India: 1st power Test - Day Five

This was a season to forget for India. In 2011, India went to England for a 4-matches test series and got white-washed,4-0. In the first test, India won the toss and chose to field first. England declared a huge total of 474/8 on the back of Kevin Pietersen's 202.

India in their first innings could only score 286 runs before they got all-out. Rahul Dravid scored a very memorable century but no one else could get it going as Broad picked up 4 wickets and annihilated India.

England who came out to bat for the final time in the match declared at 269/6 setting a huge target of 458 runs. India were bundled out for a mere 261 runs with Anderson contributing in a huge way picking up 5 wickets for just 65 runs. He got the very crucial wickets of Indian veterans, Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman. Kevin Pietersen was adjudged the man of the match for his double century in the first innings.

#4 5/47 vs New Zealand, 2013

New Zealand v England - 1st Test: Day 3

In the New Zealand series at home, Alastair Cook won the toss and chose to bat first. England could only make 232 runs before they got all-out, thanks to Southee and Wagner's heroics. Tim Southee picked up 4 wickets after conceding 58 runs and Wagner picked up 3 wickets for 70.

New Zealand who then came out to bat got destroyed by Jimmy Anderson and were bundled out for just 207 runs. Anderson picked up 5 wickets and conceded just 47 runs which included 11 maidens at an economy rate of 1.96. Anderson picked up the wickets of first four batsmen and played a key role in New Zealand's low-score.

England then came out to bat and scored just 213 runs setting a target of 239. In the second innings, Stuart Broad took over and picked up 7 wickets for just 44 runs and New Zealand got all-out for just 68 runs and suffered an embarrassing defeat.

#3 5/42 vs India, 2007

First Test: England v India - Day Two

India were playing England in the 1st Test of the Pataudi Trophy at Lord's. England won the toss and batted first. They were all-out for 298 in 91.2 overs. Andrew Strauss scored 96 and Michael Vaughan scored 79 stitching together a partnership of 142 runs. England who were looking very comfortable at one point of time at 218-1 lost remaining 9 wickets for only 80 runs.

In reply, the Anderson-Sidebottom duo destroyed Indian batting line up and India got all-out for mere 201 runs. Wasim Jaffer was the top scorer with 58 runs. Anderson registered yet another five-wicket haul going for 5/42 in 24.2 overs. He got the famous Sachin-Dravid-Ganguly trio with really good deliveries.

This match ended in a nail-biting draw where India lost 9 wickets for 282 chasing a target of 362 in the second innings. India then won the second test at Nottingham while the third test ended in a draw. India eventually clinched the series, 1-0.

#2 5/20 vs India, 2018

England v India

India visited England in 2018 for a 5-matches test series. In the third test at Lord's, England won the toss and chose to bowl first. India could only manage to score a mere 107 as Anderson registered figures of 5/20 with 5 maidens and an economy rate of just 1.5. R Ashwin was the top scorer for India with 29 runs off 38 balls. Anderson sent both the openers back in quick succession and delivered a major blow to the Indian team.

England then came out to bat and scored 396 for the loss off 7 wickets before the skipper decided to declare and put India to bat. Chris Woakes was the top scorer for England with 137. Jonny Bairstow too made valuable 93. Woakes and Bairstow registered a key partnership of 189 runs.

India came in to bat with a huge trail of 289 runs and Anderson once again showed why is one of the most feared bowlers in the world picking up 4 wickets after conceding only 23 runs. India got bundled out for 130 runs and England won by an innings and 159 runs to take 2-0 lead in the series.

#1 7/42 vs West Indies, 2017

England v West Indies

England was playing West Indies in the 3rd test of the 2017 Wisden Trophy at Lord's. West Indies won the toss and chose to bat first. West Indies got bundled out for 126 on the back of Stokes' 6/22. No one could get it going and Kieran Powell was the top-scorer with 39.

In return, England too got bundled out cheaply for just 194, thanks to Kemar Roach's 5/72 and Jason Holder's 4/54. For England, it was Ben Stokes again who performed, this time with the bat scoring 60 crucial runs. He stitched a very valuable 56-run partnership with Bairstow.

When West Indies came to bat in their 2nd Innings, it was James Anderson who bowled magnificently and ripped through the Windies' batting line up registering his best performance at Lord's, 7/42 which also included 5 maidens with an economy rate of just 2.08. Thanks to James Anderson, the Windies could only make 177 runs in their second innings. England then came out and chased the target of 107 quite comfortably losing just one wicket.