The sight of James Anderson downing a pint of Guinness on the balcony at Lord's after his final Test Match for England last week was an unexpected light-hearted moment for fans. 

But it is not the first time the cricketer has discarded his reputation as a shy personality off the field with one particular night in Oxford being retold on BBC's Test Match Special to mark his retirement. 

The swing bowler was in Oxford in October 2023 as part of the Tailenders cricket podcast's tour of the UK. 

READ MORE: Interview with Felix White ahead of Oxford live show 

Alongside co-presenters Greg James of Radio 1, and Felix White of the Maccabees, Anderson was in the Rose and Crown in Oxford ahead of their live Tailenders show at the New Theatre where they came across former England and Arsenal footballer Martin Keown, who lives in the city.

It was here that Anderson was convinced to play the part of fictional character Timmy Banderson on stage - an American 19-year-old alter-ego.

Greg James recalled on Test Match Special: "Cut to one show into the Tailenders autumn tour last year, we were in a pub in Oxford, the Rose and Crown, one of the great pubs of all time, and we had to try and persuade Jimmy to become Timmy Banderson on stage. 

"In that moment he'd had a few beers, quite a few beers, he bumped into Martin Keown, I don't know how that happened, it was quite a strange night, and he said 'alright I'll do it then'." 

James 'Jimmy' Anderson celebrates his final wicket for England at Lord'sJames 'Jimmy' Anderson celebrates his final wicket for England at Lord's (Image: PA) The next day, the Lancastrian sporting icon was taken around Oxford's charity shops to find an outfit for his fictional Gen Z stage character with more persuasion required from his Tailenders friends. 

A baseball cap, skateboard and a drapey shirt were among the items purchased for the character to be brought to life.

"That night after a lot of convincing from all of us, he took to the stage and I have never heard a roar like it," the Radio 1 presenter recalled. 

Greg JamesGreg James (Image: Archant) The DJ went on to say the reaction to Anderson's final international wicket against the West Indies on Friday was "a quarter of the level of the crowd's reaction" on stage in Oxford. 

Anderson will go down as one of the best players England has ever produced at Test Match level. 

The swing bowler salutes the crowd as he leaves the field at Lord'sThe swing bowler salutes the crowd as he leaves the field at Lord's (Image: PA) After 21 years at the pinnacle of Test cricket Anderson’s spell is finally over, leaving the sport with 188 caps and 704 wickets.

He is the most prolific pace bowler to ever to take the field, bowing out with 40,037 deliveries under his belt.

Anderson was made a life member by Marylebone Cricket Club in a special ceremony at the end of the first Test against the West Indies, which England won by an innings and 114 runs on Friday, and has already been tipped to become cricket’s latest knight of the realm by former England captain Sir Andrew Strauss.

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