Following the conclusion of the first Ashes 2023 Test between England and Australia, veteran pacer James Anderson has voiced his discontentment with the pitch used in the match. Criticizing the surface for its lack of response to pacers, Anderson even suggested that his Ashes career might come to an end if similar tracks are prepared for the remaining four Tests.
The opening Test at Edgbaston saw Australia emerge victorious by a narrow margin of 2 wickets. However, Anderson struggled to make an impact, managing to pick up just one wicket throughout the match. To add to his disappointment, he did not even get the opportunity to bowl on the final day of the enthralling contest.
“If all the pitches are like that I’m done in the Ashes series,” Anderson wrote in his Daily Telegraph column.
“That pitch was like kryptonite for me. There was not much swing, no reverse swing, no seam movement, no bounce and no pace,” he added.
Acknowledging that it was not his best performance, Anderson, who stands only 14 wickets away from becoming the first fast bowler to claim 700 Test scalps, expressed his frustration with the unresponsive nature of the pitch. The Burnley Express revealed that despite his best efforts, the conditions were so unfavourable for swing bowling that all his attempts went in vain.
“I know I wasn’t on top of my game this week. It was not my best performance. 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. 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,” Anderson explained.
Nevertheless, Anderson remains determined to bounce back in the upcoming matches and contribute to the team’s success. The experienced pacer, known for his resilience and skill, is eager to make a strong comeback and play a pivotal role for England in the remainder of the Ashes series. He said: “It’s a long series and hopefully I can contribute at some point. I know I have more to offer and contribute to the team.”
