James Anderson In the air of ascension before the Ashes, she insists England It can reach a level that “no one in the world can handle”.
as an old statesman English Cricketer Anderson tends to stay away from pre-series mind games – leaving the sarcasm to his fellow sailors Stuart Broad and Ollie Robinson – but he can’t hide his optimism for the coming summer as he prepares to play against Australia in his ninth series.
A little groin tension means Anderson appears ready to make his first home Test of the year against Ireland at Lord’s, putting him in focus for the Ashes opening at Edgbaston on June 16.
Anderson has lifted the hoop four times in 2009, 2010/11, 2013 and 2015, but has had some tough experiences with injury and an underperforming team in recent years. He has eight losses and two draws in his last 10 matches against his old foe.
Long-time bowling partner Broad recently declared England’s 4-0 defeat of Down Under in 2021/22 to be ‘invalid’ due to a hangover from the Covid-19 restrictions and Anderson downplays that assessment, though the current side He believes he is strong. A completely different proposition.
“I understand the Covid thing, but I’ve voided the last three away streaks for me. I think I’ve lost four out of five. That’s his coping strategy,” he said with a smile.
“I know what’s going on, but I’ve played long enough to park everything that has happened before, good and bad, and focus on what’s about to come.
“I’m excited for the way we’re playing. It’s about entertaining people and trying to entertain ourselves while doing it. If you look at our team, if we try our best with that mindset, I don’t think anyone can handle us. If we do what we do and play as well as we can, I don’t think anyone in the world can handle it.”
Anderson’s confidence is built on solid foundations rather than blind optimism. Head coach Brendon McCullum and captain since Ben Stokes England, which took over last summer, won 10 out of 12 Test matches playing a brand of bold, innovative cricket that ripped up several chapters of the old rulebook.
He’s a born leader. I think it’s completely different from any captain I’ve played with before. The way he trains, whether it’s in the gym, catch, batting or bowling, he’s the ultimate professional.
Anderson at Ben Stokes
Stokes’ absolute dedication to morality as a batting unit and a bowling group is the driving force behind the reinvention of a team previously associated with conservative methods.
And Anderson, who has served under many England captains such as Nasser Hussain, Michael Vaughan and Sir. Andrew StraussIt has the highest possible praise for its versatility.
Speaking at the launch of Radox’s partnership with England cricket, he was asked if Stokes was the best. He took a long pause before answering: “Yes. It’s hard to say for a short while, but he got off to a great start.
“He is a born leader. I think it’s completely different from any captain I’ve played with before and I really enjoyed it. The way he trains, whether it’s in the gym, catch, batting or bowling, he’s the ultimate professional.”
“It’s not just the finer details of his tactical mind on the pitch that matters to me, but his emotional intelligence off the pitch and how he talks to everyone in the group.”
Anderson admits with a grin that he has “old man muscles,” but if his current chuckle doesn’t get any worse, he’s a candidate to get the new ball for his series opening in Birmingham. Yet with five Tests compressed into less than seven weeks, he realizes that rotation can be a key feature between episodes of stitching on both sides.
“I think playing all five is a bit optimistic and not just for myself,” he said.
“If you tell any of the bowlers (they will play) three-fifths, I think that would probably make more sense, more realistic. If it’s four, then that’s great, but you have to take it match by match.
:: Jimmy Anderson was speaking at a partnership launch declaring Radox the Official Partner of England Cricket.
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