James Anderson Eager To Have 'Tough Battle' With Virat Kohli Again
Published - 29 Aug 2020, 11:12 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:33 AM
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England pacer James Anderson has said he is relishing the chance to bowl at India captain Virat Kohli again. The England legend made the comments just days after becoming the first fast bowler to reach 600 Test wickets. He achieved the incredible feat against Pakistan.
James Anderson and Kohli have enjoyed some intriguing battles over the years in Test cricket. When India toured England in 2014, James Anderson had become Kohli’s nemesis. The right-arm pacer had dismissed the current India skipper on four occasions as the latter managed just 134 runs in ten innings.
But when India toured England against in 2018, Kohli proved himself. He finished the series as the top run-scorer with an impressive 593 runs with two centuries and three fifties to his name.
Recalling both the tours, James Anderson said Kohli was a ‘completely different player’ during the most recent tour and insisted he enjoyed his battles with the India superstar. England are scheduled to tour India in early 2021.
“It’s always tough bowling at batsmen of that quality,” James Anderson told the Test Match Special podcast when asked about his battles with Kohli.
“I had some success against him in 2014 and then he came back a completely different player in 2018 and was incredible. It will be a tough battle but that’s something I do enjoy. You want to get the best players out,”he added.
‘He left the ball really well’:
James Anderson further explained about the changes Kohli made to his technique in order to thrive in England in 2018. The legendary pacer said the India batsman left the ball really well in 2018.
“He left the ball really well in 2018. The first time he came over, when I was bowling out-swingers he might chase it early on and that brought the edge and the slips into play. He left it a lot better and he was a lot more patient. He waited for you to bowl at him and then he’s very strong off his legs so he could score freely,” said the England star.
