ENG vs WI: Anderson's the greatest says Cook

England skipper Alastair Cook (left) celebrates with pace ace James Anderson after West Indies batsman Jason Holder was run out on the final day of the second Test at Grenada National Cricket Stadium on Saturday

St George's (Grenada): Captain Alastair Cook heaped praise on teammate James Anderson saying the pacer is England's greatest bowler of all time after the seamer inspired them to a nine-wicket win over the West Indies here on Saturday.


England skipper Alastair Cook (left) celebrates with pace ace James Anderson after West Indies batsman Jason Holder was run out on the final day of the second Test at Grenada National Cricket Stadium on Saturday. Pic/AFP

Anderson, England's highest Test wicket-taker (390 wickets), took three wickets for one run on the final morning of the second Test to help the tourists take a 1-0 series lead.

"It was a brilliant performance. He was the star and it just proves why, in my eyes, he is England's best bowler of all time," Cook was quoted as saying by BBC.

Poor pitch: With England needing to take eight wickets on an unresponsive pitch, Anderson not only made the triple breakthrough by swinging the second new ball, but also took two catches and ran out Jason Holder with a direct hit.

The 32-year-old's influence saw West Indies slip from 202 for 2 to 307 all out with England being led to their victory target of 143 by Cook and Gary Ballance.

Anderson ended with figures of 4 for 43. "We should cherish every moment he bowls for England. We turned up at the ground thinking it would be a lot of hard work on a flat wicket and it was, but when you've got special players in your team they can produce special performances at the drop of a hat," Cook, who made his second half-century of the match, said.

"I was slightly surprised with his run out and his two catches. I didn't quite know he had that in him, but it was fantastic skill and heart."