Published: Jan 24, 2019, 10:36 AM (IST)
Edited: Jan 24, 2019, 10:36 AM (IST)
England‘s bowling spearhead James Anderson has said that an ageing body is not yet a deterrent for extending his record-setting career and that he is ‘still hungry’ to take wickets in Test cricket, while missing his new-ball partner Stuart Broad who was left out of the XI to accommodate Adil Rashid.
Anderson, 36, was at the forefront of England’s resurgence late on day one of the first Test against West Indies at Kensington Oval, together with Ben Stokes claiming 4/14 in the last 9.2 overs to leave the hosts 264/8 at stumps. All four of Anderson’s wickets came in the final session Wednesday, with a spell of 3/6 in five overs making him the first England bowler to take 200 Test wickets away from home. (ALSO READ: 1st Test: Anderson derails West Indies’ progress)
“It makes you feel old,” he said after stumps. “I’ve just bowled 24 overs in a day and I’m knackered but we’ve played for a long time together and it’s amazing to think we’ve taken that many wickets. It’s a shame that Stuart wasn’t out there but hopefully he’ll get a go at some stage on this tour. We are still pretty hungry to play and we’ve all seen the amount of work Stuart has put in. I’ve loved it today…while we’re enjoying it who knows how many we can take.” (ALSO READ: Third Test hat-trick a goal for Stuart Broad)
Broad, who in Sri Lanka last year was sat out of the first two Tests, again faced the axe as England went with a second spinner in Rashid. After Anderson and Stokes crippled West Indies with the second new ball late in the day, there was debate in the English media about the decision to play two spinners.
“Of course it causes conversation, it’s a massive decision,” said Anderson when asked of Broad’s omission. “You’ve got one guy who’s played 124 Tests but you have a really talented all-rounder (in Sam Curran) and in that respect, it shows how strong our squad is. There will be difficult decisions as this team improves. It’s tough for Joe but that’s why he gets paid the big bucks.”
