From Bradman to Anderson: A Legacy of Cricketing Knights

Former England fast bowler James Anderson has been knighted for his outstanding services to cricket, joining an elite list of cricketing legends honoured over the decades.

James Anderson Knighted for Services to Cricket (Image Source: Google)

Recently, former England fast bowler James Anderson received his knighthood and was knighted by Princess Anne, for his services towards England cricket. The knighthood for him was announced by then British PM Rishi Sunak in April this year at the 2024 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours.

He retired from international cricket in July 2024 after playing for over 20 years, with 704 in Tests alone. Although 43 plus, he is still active and has taken most wickets in first-class cricket, among the active cricketers.

The history of cricketing knights is short but very interesting. While English cricketers are frequently honoured, players from other Commonwealth countries have also been knighted for their service to the game:

- Most of the players honoured are batsmen.

- Anderson is the 15th English cricketer to be knighted since the first, Sir Francis Eden Lacey.

- Only four of the 15 were bowlers.

- Overall, the knighthoods for Wes Hall, Charlie Griffith, Andy Roberts and Curtly Ambrose in the last few years has improved the imbalance.

- Sir James Anderson is not the first right-arm pace bowler to be honoured and he is, not even the first Sir James Anderson.

- Bill Woodfull was offered a knighthood in 1934 for services to cricket, but turned it down, making Donald Bradman the only Australian cricketer to be knighted.

List of cricketers who were knighted for their services to cricket:

1.Sir Francis Eden Lacey: He was the first person to be knighted (1926) for services to cricket or any sport. He was a powerful administrator and was the secretary of MCC for 28 years.

2. Sir Frederick Charles Toone (1868–1930), knighted in 1929. He was awarded for fostering relations between "the Dominions and the Mother Country".

3.Sir Pelham "Plum" Warner, knighted in 1937.

4.Sir Donald Bradman, knighted in 1949. His Test career was over when he was made a Knight Bachelor on January 1, 1949. He is the only Australian to be knighted.

5.Sir Jack Hobbs, knighted in 1953. He the first professional to be knighted.

6. Sir Henry "Shrimp" Leveson-Gower, knighted in 1953.

7. Sir Len Hutton, knighted in 1956.

8. Sir Frank Worrell, knighted in 1964.

9. Sir John Neville Cardus, knighted in 1967 for services to music and cricket journalism. He did not play even first-class cricket.

10.Sir Garfield Sobers, knighted in 1975.

11.Sir Gubby Allen, knighted in 1986.

12.Sir Richard Hadlee, knighted in 1990. Like Bradman, he had not actually had his knighthood conferred on him while a player.

13.Sir Colin Cowdrey, knighted in 1992.

14.Sir Clyde Walcott created a Knight of St. Andrew of the Order of Barbados in 1993.

15.Sir Everton Weekes, knighted in 1995.

16.Sir Alec Bedser, knighted in 1996. Alec Bedser became the 16th cricket-related person but the first bowler to be knighted.

17. Sir Conrad Hunte created a Knight of St. Andrew of the Order of Barbados in 1998.

18.Sir Vivian Richards was created a Knight of the Order of the National Hero in 1999 by the Antiguan government.

19. Lord Ian Botham, knighted in 2007 for services to charity and to cricket.

20.Reverend Sir Wesley Hall, knighted for services to cricket and the community in 2012.

21.Sir Curtly Ambrose, knighted by the Antiguan government in 2014.

22. Sir Andy Roberts, knighted by the Antiguan government in 2014.

23.Sir Richie Richardson, knighted by the Antiguan government in 2014.

24.Sir Charles Griffith created a Knight of St. Andrew of the Order of Barbados in 2017.

25. Sir Alastair Cook, knighted in 2019.

26.Sir Geoffrey Boycott, knighted in 2019.

27. Sir Andrew Strauss, knighted in 2019.

28.Sir Clive Lloyd, knighted in the 2020 New Years Honours List.

29. Sir Gordon Greenidge created a Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George in the 2020 New Years Honours List for services to cricket and the development of sport.

30. Sir James Anderson, knighted in 2025.