Let’s get every last delivery out of Jimmy Anderson until he can’t do it any more

It was on this same Newlands ground that I first thought England might have found someone special when Jimmy Anderson burst through in the 2003 World Cup against Pakistan.

The only thing we didn’t know then was that, more than 16 years later, Jimmy would still have the hunger to get out of bed every day, pull those boots on again and again, and keep on setting the highest of standards for the England attack.

Anderson is breaking almost every record available to him — now he has gone past Sir Ian Botham’s number of five-fors for England — and he is getting even better with age.

When you have had the type of injury Anderson has, and his calf problem was a serious one, then there must be some doubt whether you can come back as good as before, particularly at Jimmy’s age. But he has answered any doubts there could possibly be.

I did find it extraordinary there were some prepared to write Anderson off before this match. We are so short-term in our thinking at times. He just had one average match on his return in Centurion. Would India do that with Virat Kohli? Or Australia with Steve Smith?

Anderson is a once-in-a-generation cricketer, if not more than that. And what sets him apart is his professionalism both on and off the field. For instance, it did not surprise me at all when he took a wicket with the first ball of day three of this second Test.

You can do all your talking in the dressing room and say it’s important to concentrate on getting the last two South African wickets before thinking about batting but then if your bowlers are not switched on you can lose all control.

It was clear there was something special about Anderson when he broke through in 2003

But with Jimmy the first ball of his new spell is invariably as good as the last ball of his previous one. And to think of the work and rehab he must have done to get back to this level after having his Ashes ruined last summer.

There’s always an easier option out there for someone like Jimmy. He’s doing some things in the media now and I would imagine there is a place in the BBC commentary box waiting for him but he still wants the bloody hard work of bowling fast.

Jimmy can be difficult to captain. He can be grumpy and stubborn and he can want to do things his own way. There will be times when the breeze is blowing perfectly for Anderson’s outswinger but he will want to bowl from the other end.

When Jimmy is hit for four he can sometimes want to move a slip to cover because he thinks about how many runs he’s conceding and likes to dry up the batsman.

He has been like that with various captains like Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook and Joe Root when they have wanted him to pitch the ball up and attack. And at those times, those of us in the commentary box can accuse two of the greatest of all England bowlers in Anderson and Stuart Broad of not pitching the ball up often enough with the new ball. 

Should Jofra Archer have been fit then Anderson may not have played in the second Test

But they can point to their figures and say to us: ‘We’re doing absolutely fine thank you very much.’

Where Jimmy in particular is smart is that he can go length, length and then slightly fuller to lure the batsman into throwing the kitchen sink at it. Anderson’s second wicket and his fifth of the innings was a classic of that kind. It may have only been Anrich Nortje but it was typical of how Jimmy sets up and then gets out better players.

Clearly there was a chance England may have left Anderson out here had Jofra Archer been fit and that would have been a difficult one for Root and Chris Silverwood. 

I could understand the dilemma but I wouldn’t have left either Broad or Anderson out because I think we should make the most of them while we have them.

England did the right thing in selecting a spinner in Dominic Bess despite the array of seamers

Yes I would have gone for a spinner here in Dom Bess but the key to me is who you would be leaving out for him. Bess for Anderson just didn’t seem right and I would have left Sam Curran or even Archer out in this game had he been fit.

I don’t think it will do Jofra any harm now to be left on the sidelines for a bit and I might leave him out in the next Test in Port Elizabeth. It’s not until something is taken away from you at times that you fully appreciate it.

Yes, England do have to have an eye on the future and they do have to plan for life after Anderson and Broad. I can see the argument about England being concerned about them both retiring together and leaving a massive hole.

But we must enjoy Jimmy because he is unique and there will never be another one. Let’s get every last delivery out of this legend until he can’t do it any more. And really appreciate him while he’s here.