James Anderson: “He was the difference between the two teams”
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Pace bowler James Anderson has revealed that England will go after Australia captain Steve Smith in the second Ashes Test in Adelaide, which will be a day-night affair.
Anderson’s comments come after Smith rescued Australia in the first innings in the first Test in Brisbane as he scored an unbeaten 141.
Smith’s 21st Test century gave Australia a slender first-innings lead and was the starting point of England’s downfall in the match, which the Baggy Greens won by 10 wickets.
Anderson admitted that Smith’s knock changed the complexion of the game and highlights exactly why England have to take him out early on.
“He was the difference between the two teams. That first-innings lead would’ve been huge for us,” Anderson was quoted as saying by Sky Sports. “So, getting him out here will be crucial. Hopefully more pace in the wicket might help us, but we’ve just got to be as relentless as we possibly can to someone like that.
“Obviously, the plans to him, I wouldn’t say they didn’t work, but we didn’t get him out, so they worked to an extent. We dried his runs up and made him work really hard for his hundred but obviously we want to get him out.”
On the fourth day of the first Test, rumours emerged that England wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow had headbutted Australia opener Cameron Bancroft at a bar in Perth on October 29.
However, while the incident was proven to be true, both Bairstow and Bancroft insisted that there was nothing malicious about the headbutt.
“It is not like we are party animals, out till three every night,” Anderson said. “Our focus is showing what we can do with a cricket bat and ball in our hands.”
The Bairstow-Bancroft incident only became public knowledge after comments about it were picked up by a stump microphone.
Even though Bairstow had to put up with a lot of chat from the Australians while he was batting, Anderson made it clear that England won’t be affected by Australia’s sledging tactics.
“We’re all going to get behind Jonny, who is an important player in our team,” he said. “When someone is trying to get under my skin in all walks of life it makes me more determined to succeed.
“It is up to us individually and as a group to stick together and know that we are not here to roll over.”