AUS vs ENG: He Just Had No Impact - Michael Atherton Not Impressed With James Anderson

Former England cricketer Michael Atherton talked about James Anderson’s struggle in the ongoing Ashes 2023. He said that the veteran pacer didn’t have the impact as per his standards and has now put himself at the mercy of the selectors.

James Anderson has been England’s biggest disappointment in the ongoing Ashes 2023. With the kind of stature that he has it was expected that he would be among the leading wicket-takers in the series by the end of it. But this hasn’t been the case as failed to find his mojo in the series.

James Anderson throughout the series struggled with his lines and lengths and looked clueless with the ball in hand. He bagged just three wickets in the first two games and then was rested for the third game in Headingley. He made a return to the team in rain washed-out 4th game, replacing Ollie Robinson but failed to make an impact there as well.

Also Read: ENG vs AUS: “As I Watched Him Announce His Retirement On Sky Sports, I Felt Quite Emotional” – Alastair Cook On Stuart Broad

England then backed him and retained him in the team for the final game. He bowled good lines and lengths but was unlucky as he didn’t get the results he would’ve wanted. So far he has taken just 5 wickets and there has been a lot of talk about his retirement as well but he has expressed his desire to continue.

Michael Atherton while hailing James Anderson as the most skilful craftsman pointed out that he has failed to extract swing as well as the reverse swing. He also noted that England has been playing on flat decks for the last two years which hasn’t been supporting the pacer.

“He just had no impact, five wickets all told, missing the Headingley Test but playing the others. What’s been the puzzle is the lack of movement there for him. He’s one of the most skilful craftsmen we have ever seen hold a red ball dukes ball in his hand and he’s just not done anything for him as he hasn’t swung, he hasn’t found the reverse swing,” While speaking to Sky Sports, he explained.

“Bazball in the last couple of years has played on flat pitches to aid the kind of strength of England, quick scoring, chasing runs down in 4th innings, it doesn’t necessarily play to Anderson’s strength. But even so without that movement to take 5 wickets in the series is certainly not the standards that he comes to expect of himself,” he added.

Also Read: AUS vs ENG: Dinesh Karthik Predicts Australia To Win Ashes Finale

AUS vs ENG: He will leave himself at the mercy of the selectors – Michael Atherton on James Anderson

Michael Atherton further went on to say that although James Anderson has expressed his desire to play his selections will not depend on selectors now with young pacers waiting for the opportunities.

“He wants to keep on playing and that is every cricketer’s right. It’s the one thing you have in your control when you want to finish and Broad chose a good moment I think. But Anderson said that he still got the desire to keep going.

“That is the key thing you know in your heart and your head whether you still got that desire if he has fair enough, but you do leave yourself at the mercy of the selectors and I don’t think sentiment then comes into it. With young lads like Josh Tongue around and pushing, so he will leave himself at the mercy of the selectors but it’s fair enough for him to say I want to keep going,” he explained.

James Anderson would be hoping to end the series on high and would want to make a massive impact in the final innings of the series.

Also Read: ENG vs AUS: “I Was A Little Bit Shocked When He Told Me” – James Anderson On Stuart Broad’s Retirement