The England cricket team has gotten off to the best start possible in the IND vs ENG Test series. After downing Rohit Sharma and co. without the requirement of their greatest ever bowler, James Anderson, the visitors will be riding high on confidence.
The 41-year-old pacer has ample experience playing in India, having toured the nation five times before. After his omission in the first Test, Anderson would be raring to have a go at the India cricket team sans Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and KL Rahul.
The fast bowler holds the record for taking the most wickets against India in Test cricket, having taken 139 wickets in 35 matches. But, it isn’t his overall record that makes him troublesome against India. But rather his record on his last three tours of Asia.
James Anderson’s numbers in Asia (last 3 tours)
In the past three years, James Anderson has toured Asia (India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) three times. On these tours, he has played six matches and taken 22 wickets. The number of wickets he’s taken on spin-friendly pitches is impressive, but what’s more astonishing is that he’s taken these wickets at just 14.59 while giving just 1.92 runs an over.
These numbers are almost too good to be true, especially considering that James Anderson was aged 38 or older during each of these tours.
His numbers were consistent when he toured India in 2021 as well. The 41-year-old played a major role in England winning the lone Test match in Chennai. Since then, he’s been to Pakistan, where England whitewashed Pakistan 3-0 and proved to be their most economical bowler.
His capability of bowling dry when the pitch isn’t offering much to fast bowlers and using swing (conventional and reverse) when the conditions are in his favor is what England needs. With him in the side, Jasprit Bumrah will have a worthy counterpart who’s on par, if not ahead of him in skills.
| Asia | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 8 | 3 |
| Wickets | 22 | 8 |
| Average | 14.59 | 15.87 |
| Economy | 1.92 | 1.92 |
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