ENG vs IND 2018: We Have Been Able To Learn A Great Deal From James Anderson: Mohammed Shami

Mohammad Shami, on Tuesday, said that the Indian bowlers have tried to learn from England star James Anderson about how to bowl in English conditions. Speaking ahead of the fourth England vs India Test, Shami said he is amazed at how Anderson is able to deceive batsmen despite not being the fastest bowler around.

Even at 36 and bowling in the 130s, Anderson has continued to trouble the batsmen with his extraordinary control and length. The pacer is now the leading wicket-taker in Tests among active cricketers and looks set to add a lot more to his kitty. Just a couple of weeks ago, Anderson achieved the highest ranking by an England bowler in Test history. His spell of 5 for 20 and 4 for 23 in the second Test at Lord’s had made his coach Trevor Bayliss that he could play until he’s 40.

The right-arm pacer has delivered exemplary irrespective of conditions. Anderson has blown away opposition at home which has overshadowed his record outside the country. He has also been fairly successful away from home after developing the skill of reverse swing.

He has picked up 144 Test wickets at an average of 28.57 while touring since 2010.

Anderson’s brilliance is not impressing only his teammates and coaching staffs but also the opposition and the way Shami went gaga over him, it pretty much proves that. On the eve of the fourth Test, the Indian pacer wished luck to Anderson, who at 557 scalps, is only seven short of becoming the highest ever wicket-taker among fast bowlers in international cricket surpassing Glenn McGrath (563 wickets).

“As far as learning goes, when you see a senior player (Anderson) performing before you like that, you observe him as much as you can. I am always looking at how he doesn’t have as much pace as us but still takes wickets – what lengths does he bowl? You get to learn these things. He’s a different bowler in different conditions,”  Shami told reporters at a media conference.

“No matter where a player comes from, the first thing you have to see is what he works on in home conditions. We have been able to learn a great deal from Anderson. We saw him on the last tour here as well and he bowled really well. So far, what I’ve learnt from Anderson is that more accurate you are, the better it is for you,” he added.

While Anderson continues to torment batsmen, the Indian bowlers are also not very far behind at the moment. In the ongoing series, they have picked up 38 out of the 46 wickets in three Tests. In the third Test, they had taken 19 wickets to fire India to a much-needed win. Prior to that, the pacers had impressed on the tour of South Africa.

Shami said that it is their duty to deliver in conducive conditions.

“The responsibility is on fast bowlers to deliver in these conditions. We try out best and we have been trying our best. In the last series (in South Africa), you have seen we have done our job well too.

“So the attempt is to not look at this entire series, but take it match by match. It is better for us to shorten it and look at it in that manner,” said Shami.

Meanwhile, India trail England 1-2 in the series. With the momentum on their side following the 203-run in the last Test, they will be looking to level the series in Southampton.