James Anderson shared insights into the valuable lessons he gained from the former legendary Indian bowler Zaheer Khan.
James Anderson undoubtedly stands as one of the finest fast bowlers in the history of Test cricket. His illustrious career is marked by numerous achievements, and what sets him apart is his unwavering commitment to representing the national side.
Even as he enters his 40s, Anderson exudes the energy and enthusiasm of a young player. His remarkable performances suggest that he is poised to continue contributing for several more years. In the face of a new generation of cricketers, Anderson not only sustains but leads the England bowling attack, showcasing the depth of his skill and experience.
Like a fine wine, Anderson’s prowess seems to improve with age. His current form in the ongoing Test series against India is nothing short of spectacular. On spin-friendly tracks, he effortlessly displays his class, consistently delivering crucial wickets for his team when they need it the most.
James Anderson, on the brink of achieving 700 Test wickets, shared that he gained insights from Zaheer Khan on how the former Indian fast bowler adeptly concealed the ball. Speaking to Jio Cinema, he explained:
“For me, Zaheer Khan was someone I used to watch a lot to try and learn from. How he used the reverse swing, how he covered the ball when he ran into bowl, that’s something I tried to sort of develop on the back of playing against him quite a few times here.”
James Anderson showered high praise on Jasprit Bumrah, the Indian counterpart, highlighting his exceptional skill in dismissing Ollie Pope with a precise yorker. Anderson expressed admiration for India’s world-class bowling attack.
“That yorker we saw to Ollie Pope, he’s got that up his sleeve as well. It’s not a fluke that he’s got to number one in the world. He’s a world-class bowler and from our point of view, we weren’t surprised that he put up a performance like that. There are not many better bowlers than Bumrah, Shami and Siraj. They’re world-class bowlers. You put Ishant Sharma in there as well, and that’s a really strong bowling attack.”
James Anderson discussed his sustained career and expressed that despite being 41 years and 200 days old, he doesn’t perceive himself as such. According to him, age is merely a number, and he feels unaffected by it.
“Yeah, I guess you do look at things like that, but to be honest, I just go with the feel of me and my body. I don’t feel like I’m 41 years and 200 days old. You know, I still feel young. I can keep up with the young guys in training. I can still bowl at the speeds that I want to, I can still deliver the skills that I want to. So, for me, that’s the most important thing. Age is just a number and it’s pretty irrelevant from my thought process.”
James Anderson is set to make his next appearance during the upcoming Test match against India, which will be the final game of the series. The venue for this exciting clash is Dharamsala, with the match scheduled to take place on the 7th of March.
