http://www.senore.com/Cricket/JM-Anderson-c1705 – One of the world’s best - Opinion
James Anderson, having performed exceptionally well at the county circuit as well as for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757, after a magical spell
against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 at Cape Town.
The cricketer from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Lancashire-c806 was always tipped for greatness because of his ability to swing the ball both ways with immaculate lines and lengths. However, the right-arm seamer struggled with several injuries at the start of his career, which hampered his
progress in international cricket.
However, Anderson has been playing at the highest level of the game consistently over the last five years, playing a huge role in reviving England’s fortunes in international cricket. In recent past, the 30-year-old cricketer has been the spearhead of the
English bowling attack, doing well against all the major teams.
At the present moment, the fast bowler has 288 wickets under his belt in 77 Tests at an average of 30.39 runs per scalp, including a dozen five-wicket hauls.
Ian Botham, the legendary all-rounder is currently the leading wicket-taker of the history of English cricket, with 383 victims. One can safely say if Anderson remains fit, he will easily surpass the record of the great cricketer.
Botham, while expressing his views earlier this year about the potential threat to his record, said that the cricketer from Lancashire is the leading bowler of world-cricket at the moment. The former cricketer is a great fan of Anderson and wishes him well
for future.
“I don't see any reason why he can't beat it, my record. Jimmy is the best bowler in world cricket at the moment. I have watched him over the last two years carry the England attack. He is the leader of the pack and let's hope he stays fit because he is
the most feared new-ball bowler around,” said Botham.
The only criticism on Anderson so far has been his lack of ability to deliver the goods in the sub-continent as the right-armer miserably failed to make an impression during the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 Cricket World Cup 2011. The leader of the English bowling attack picked
up just four wickets in five matches and conceded more than 6.5 runs per over, which is not acceptable from a specialist bowler.
However, Anderson has proved his credentials in the recently-concluded Test series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750, helping his side beat the Men in Blue at their home soil after almost 28 years. The right-arm bowler picked up 12 wickets in four fixtures on extremely flat
tracks, offering no assistance to the fast bowlers. The English spearhead bowled some tremendous spells with the new cherry as well as with the old ball.
In the last match at Nagpur, Anderson picked up four wickets in India’s only innings, displaying high-quality reverse swing bowling, grabbing the Player of the Match award.
“People come over here and think the spinners are going to get all the wickets but I wanted to show seamers have a job to do as well. Reverse swing played a key part and we executed our plans well,” the fast bowler mentioned after the
series.
Now that Anderson has proved his ability to perform in unhelpful conditions as well, the naturally gifted player is surely one of the world’s finest new-ball bowlers along with South Africa’s http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DW-Steyn-c1409.
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