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In a recent interview, England Test great James Anderson was asked about the best batsman he has ever bowled to in his glorious career. The 37-year-old named former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting and stated that it was ‘intimidating’ to bowl to the Tasmanian.
The two lit up numerous Ashes contests during their long careers with their enchanting duels. Anderson, who surpassed Glenn McGrath’s in the tally of the most number of Test wickets amongst pace bowlers, said that it was challenging bowling to the Australian number three batsman.
With 27,483 international runs, Ponting stands third in the tally of most number of runs in all formats, behind Sachin Tendulkar (34,357) and Kumar Sangakkara (28,016). Also, Ponting has 71 international tons to his name, only behind Master Blaster’s record of 100 hundred in internationals.
“It was the fear of failure at the beginning of my career when I used to bowl to someone as good as he was, one of the best ever,” Anderson told Nick Knight during a pre-match show in Sky Sports.
“I’d be thinking, I can’t bowl short because he will pull me over mid-wicket. I can’t bowl full because he will drive me straight back down the ground. I was thinking about what I can’t do. That’s why I’d drag it down, bowl half volleys. I found him really intimidating to bowl at,” claimed the Test specialist.
Anderson, the fourth-highest wicket-taker in Test history, with 584 dismissals to his name, was ruled out of the Test series against South Africa, after featuring in the first two Tests.
The English speedster suffered a rib injury after claiming a fifer in the first innings of the Cape Town Test. However, he put himself in contention for the upcoming Sri Lankan Tests.
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Who is the best batsman you have ever bowled to, @jimmy9? 🏏
Nope, @niallnobiobrien, it's not you 🤣
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