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Veteran England fast-bowler James Anderson anticipates a unique strategy for the upcoming five-match Test series against India, suggesting that England might open the bowling with two spinners. The tour commences on January 25 in Hyderabad, and England aims to overcome their last Test series loss in India in 2021.
Reflecting on his evolving role as a senior figure, Anderson acknowledges the responsibility of mentoring bowlers who haven’t experienced the challenges of bowling in India. With a four-member spin-bowling attack featuring Jack Leach, Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, and Shoaib Bashir, Anderson emphasizes the importance of passing on crucial information to the newcomers.
Considering the limited number of seamers in the squad, Anderson envisions a shift in roles and emphasizes the significance of spells bowled in different conditions. Reverse swing is expected to play a crucial role, and Anderson suggests that there might be occasions where England opts to open with two spinners, presenting a different challenge for the bowling unit.
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Having a commendable record in Tests in India with 39 wickets at an average of 29, James Anderson is determined to contribute significantly despite not having an ideal outing in the recent Ashes series against Australia. Although his long-time partner Stuart Broad has retired, Anderson, with 690 Test wickets, remains motivated and believes he still has a lot to offer.
Downplaying age as just a number, Anderson expresses confidence in his skills and fitness, emphasizing that his training this winter reaffirms his ability to make meaningful contributions to the team. He views the last 5-6 years as the best of his career and remains focused on putting in the hard work to maintain his high-performance level.
“I feel the last 5-6 years have been the best of my career. Although the Ashes did not go as well as I wanted it to, there have been many series when I have not bowled well throughout my career, and it is just a case of putting in the hard work to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” he concluded.
–IANS
