James Anderson has admitted that the Edgbaston pitch for the first Ashes Test was “like kryptonite” for him without much to offer the fast bowlers, and that he would be “done” if the conditions for the last four games were similar and offered minimal assistance.
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Anderson ended with figures of 1-109 in 38 overs during the nervy two-wicket defeat for England against Australia earlier this week, and his disappointing returns meant that he was not trusted with the new ball in the dying stages of the Test match. The talismanic quick bowled the least overs among England’s three main seamers and his economy rate was above three in the second innings.
The 40-year-old, who played his first match after returning from an injury during the County Championship, admitted that his body felt rusty during the game but also added that the docile wicket played a part in his below-par showings.
In his column for The Telegraph, he wrote, “This is an Ashes series. It is a big deal. When you play on a flat pitch like the one at Edgbaston and take a wicket, a bit more emotion does come out because you have worked extra hard for it.
“That pitch was like kryptonite for me. There was not much swing, no reverse swing, no seam movement, no bounce and no pace. I’ve tried over the years to hone my skills so I can bowl in any conditions but everything I tried made no difference. I felt like I was fighting an uphill battle. It’s a long series and hopefully, I can contribute at some point, but if all the pitches are like that I’m done in the Ashes series.”
Over the last week, experts have questioned Anderson’s lack of preparedness for the Ashes, having not played the recent Test against Ireland after hurting his groin while playing for Lancashire in May. He explains that he encountered some stiffness over the course of the five Ashes days, but the conditions played a part as well.
“There was a bit of rustiness but I gave it everything I could. Having played for a long time, I realise you can’t take wickets every game. Sometimes it is not your week. It felt like that for me. I know I wasn’t on top of my game this week. It was not my best performance. I know I have more to offer and contribute to the team.
“The body felt quite good. There is some stiffness but I put that down to the unique conditions. We were running in on a very soft outfield then landing on a rock-hard pitch and that takes its toll on the body more than normal. All the bowlers were feeling that a bit.”
