We've Just Got To Hope He Nicks One And That's All We Can Do - James Anderson On Plans To Dismiss Rishabh Pant

Even the legendary England pacer James Anderson can sometimes feel helpless against the unorthodox batting of Rishabh Pant. On Day 3 of the ongoing Test in Nottingham, the two stalwarts, who are at different ends of their careers, are set to resume their newfound rivalry, which was ignited when the left-hander outrageously reverse-scooped the talisman seamer.

On Day 2, James Anderson stormed England back into the game with wickets of Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli, going one up against the Indian captain, on consecutive deliveries; it was followed by a run-out of Ajinkya Rahane to put the game hanging in balance. Rishabh Pant joined half-centurion KL Rahul in the middle.

When asked about his plans to dismiss Pant, James Anderson said they can’t do much about a batsman who bats very differently from others. He, in fact, will just be focussing on his bowling and hoping for the Pant to make a mistake.

“All we have got to do is concentrate on our areas as much as we can, keep bowling our best ball even when he’s doing different things to try and put us off. We’ve just got to hope he nicks one and that’s all we can do because, as I said, he’s a great player. We have nothing specific planned for him. If he keeps charging me then I’ll bowl my best ball, that’s all we can do,” James Anderson said.

We just have to accept that he’s a fantastic player: James Anderson

Pant made his intentions very clear when he came out to bat. On his third ball, he looked to drive James Anderson – that despite watching Pujaran and Kohli getting dismissed just a while ago. On his fourth ball, the left-hander charged down to Anderson and mishit it, but the ball landed in no man’s land.

The seamer did hail pant as a special talent, but now knows well of the batsman’s game plan for Day 3.

“We’ve got a taste of what he was planning to do. He used his feet on the third ball he faced today. We know the way he’s going to play. He’s aggressive, he’ll think outside the box. He might play the odd shot that’s out of the ordinary and we just have to accept that he’s a fantastic player, fantastic talent,” the 39-year-old fast bowler said.