England’s legendary fast bowler James Anderson He was officially knighted during a prestigious ceremony at Windsor Castle on Tuesday, October 28. The 43-year-old pacer received the honor from Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, recognizing his monumental contributions to the sport over a remarkable 22-year career.
During the inauguration ceremony, Anderson was accompanied by his wife Daniella and his two daughters, Lola and Ruby. The event celebrated not only his cricketing milestones but also his personal journey, from his Test debut at Lord’s in 2003 to the conclusion of his historic career on the same ground two decades later.
James Anderson’s achievements in international cricket
James Anderson, who retired from Test cricket in July 2024 at Lord’s, finished his international career as England’s all-time leading wicket-taker with 704 Test wickets in 188 matches. This makes him the most successful fast bowler in Test history, only behind spin legends Muttiah Muralitharan (800 wickets) and Shane Warne (708 wickets) in the general list. Anderson also holds the England record for most wickets in One Day Internationals (269), despite playing his last white-ball match in 2015.
Knighthood: a fitting tribute to England cricketers
The knighthood awarded to Anderson is one of the highest civilian honors in the United Kingdom and celebrates his exceptional achievements and services to cricket. He was included in former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s resignation honors list in early 2025, becoming the only athlete to be recognised. Sir James Anderson joins an elite group of cricket icons including Sir Ian Botham, Sir Geoffrey Boycott, Sir Alastair Cook and Sir Andrew Strauss.
The honor not only recognizes his statistical milestones but also recognizes his contributions as a mentor, leader and ambassador of the game, inspiring countless cricketers with his professionalism and passion.
Also READ: James Anderson picks the two fastest bowlers he has seen in world cricket
Full list of England cricketers to be knighted
| Name | year of chivalry |
|---|---|
| Francisco Lacy | 1926 |
| Federico Toone | 1929 |
| Pelham Warner | 1937 |
| John Hobbs | 1953 |
| Henry Leveson Gower | 1953 |
| Leonardo Hutton | 1956 |
| Neville Cardus | 1967 |
| Gubby Allen | 1986 |
| Colin Cowdrey | 1992 |
| Alec Bedser | 1996 |
| Ian Botham | 2007 |
| Alastair Cook | 2019 |
| Boycott Geoffrey | 2019 |
| Andres Strauss | 2019 |
| James Anderson | 2025 |
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