North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda: England did everything possible to win the first Test against West Indies which ended in a draw in Antigua on Friday, captain Alastair Cook said.
They failed to bowl the hosts out after reducing them to 162 for five at lunch, West indies’ Jason Holder hitting an unbeaten 103 to leave England frustrated again after their dismal World Cup campaign.
“We knew it was going to be hard work and it proved to be,” Cook told Sky Sports. “Getting three wickets in the first session was a great effort. Credit to Jason Holder, we couldn’t have done any more. I can’t fault the lads’ effort.
“In these conditions, you almost have to play the perfect game and that doesn’t always happen. We dropped a couple of tough chances but I think it would be harsh to focus on those. It was a tough wicket. The lads fought incredibly hard.”
Cook did enjoy the moment when his catch to dismiss West Indies captain Denesh Ramdin in the final session took James Anderson past Ian Botham as England’s leading Test wicket-taker.
“It was a great moment when Jimmy took the 384th wicket, we’ll remember it for a long time,” Cook said.
The England skipper had a disappointing match with the bat, scoring 11 and 13 to extend his long run without a test century which dates back nearly two years.
Jonathan Trott also failed twice on his return to the side for the first time since leaving the 2013-14 Ashes tour in Australia due to a stress-related illness and England have plenty to ponder before the second test in Grenada on Tuesday.
“My immediate emotion (when I took the record-breaking wicket) was we were back in the game. We were hoping to get the win,” Anderson told Sky Sports after the first match of a three-Test series ended all square.
“I’m hugely proud, great to have my family here as well and taking over from an English legend is a hugely proud moment for me.”
Botham initially tweeted his congratulations, saying: “Great moment for Jimmy and his family..... Congratulations you deserve it .... Awesome !!”
The all-round great, writing in his column for Britain’s Daily Mirror, added Anderson was the “complete bowler”.
“He has been a joy to watch for more than 12 years in an England shirt and I’m absolutely delighted for him that he has finally overtaken me to be No. 1 on the Test wicket takers list out on his own,” Botham wrote.
“Because he has been out on his own for years as the leader of England’s attack and the finest swing bowler of his generation.”
Botham added: “He hasn’t done it the easy way, he has had to work hard for his rewards and he has had to improve along the way to become the complete bowler he is today.
“You don’t take as many wickets as he has by being a one-trick pony who can only succeed in swinging or helpful conditions.”
Meanwhile Botham said there were more milestones to come for Anderson.
“I expect him to go past 400 now and set a record for the ages. And I’m glad I was here in Antigua to watch him do it.”
