'Now I feel I can bowl on most pitches' – Jimmy Anderson
England fast bowler James Anderson picked up the key wicket of Shai Hope with the old ball, and three more with the second new ball, to leave the Windies reeling at 264/8 on the first day of the Barbados Test.
After that stunning spell – he picked 4/33 and became the first England bowler to claim over 200 wickets away from home – the 36-year-old felt he had learnt to excel on most surfaces.
Anderson had delivered an excellent spell with the first new ball, but Kraigg Brathwaite and debutant John Campbell had played him out very cautiously. In fact, through the day, the Windies batsmen applied themselves to reach 240/4 on back of three half-centuries. But it was Anderson's magical second new-ball spell that wreaked havoc.
On England's last tour to Sri Lanka, where their spinners contributed to a historic 3-0 whitewash, Anderson had felt a bit pedestrian, claiming only one wicket from two Tests before being left out for the third. His toil in those conditions allowed him the perspective to appreciate the swing he got on the opening day in Barbados.
"I’ve always enjoyed the challenge away from home, but it’s often been difficult to get to grips with conditions," he said. "I guess it’s getting to know my game and getting my skills and confidence up.
"Now I feel I can bowl on most pitches – though you could probably take Sri Lanka out of that. Tours like that make you appreciate when there’s a bit of something for you. There was a bit of swing here even though the wicket was pretty flat."
The burst saw Anderson go past the combined milestone of 1000 Test wickets with Broad, his long-time bowling partner. Broad, however, wasn't on the field to celebrate the mark, having been been left out of the XI. Anderson appreciated that skipper Joe Root had to make a tough call based on how the conditions would play.
"It makes you feel old," Anderson said of the joint milestone. "(Broad and I have) played for a long time together. It's amazing to think we've taken that many wickets together. It's a shame that he wasn't out there today but hopefully he'll get a go at some stage on this tour.
"It's a massive decision (to leave Broad out). A guy who has played 124 Tests but then you have a really talented all-rounder (in Sam Curran). In that respect, it shows how strong our squad is.
"It's tough for Joe, but that's why he gets paid the big bucks. It's Joe and Trevor's (Bayliss, the coach) job. As players we just turn up and prepare to perform. We know there will be tough calls."
https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/981975
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