James Anderson rolled back the years in fine fashion on the second morning of the MCG Test, delivering a fine six-over spell that yielded just the solitary run and saw him pick up the important wicket of Steve Smith for just 16.
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Australia began the day in firm control of the Test but a good morning for the England seamers wrested back some of the initiative for the tourists to keep their slim hopes alive.
Anderson was a pivotal part of that first session performance with his six-over spell before the lunch break the highlight of the session.
He ended the spell with remarkable figures of 6-5-1-1. For much of it, he was all over Marcus Harris who played and missed on several occasions.
Smith was the man to eventually fall to Anderson – who now averages under 15 with the ball in away Tests this year. Anderson induced an inside edge from Smith that rattled into the stumps, drawing a close to his innings on a ground on which he traditionally dominates; prior to this Test, Smith averaged over 90 with the bat at the MCG. With that dismissal, no bowler has taken Smith’s wicket more than Anderson has in Test cricket.
You can watch Anderson’s dismissal of Smith below:
Smith b Anderson 16pic.twitter.com/mlTi7cy3SD
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) December 27, 2021
