James Anderson reveals how he learned the reverse swing technique from Zaheer Khan

English fast bowler James Anderson acknowledged Indian cricket legend Zaheer Khan as a major influence in his career. James Anderson revealed that he sought advice from Zaheer Khan on bowling techniques, including the reverse swing and hiding the ball in the run-up.

James Anderson is just two wickets away from completing 700 wickets in Test cricket. The right-arm pacer could become the first pacer to reach this milestone. He currently stands third among the leading Test wicket-takers, behind Muthiah Muralidaran and Shane Warne.

In 16 Tests played in India, James Anderson has taken 42 wickets at an average of 30.28 without securing a five-wicket haul. The veteran pace bowler has taken eight wickets from three matches at an average of 34.38 in the ongoing five-match Test series against India.

Zaheer Khan Was Someone I Used To Watch A Lot – James Anderon

Anderson acknowledged Zaheer Khan’s impact on his bowling technique, particularly in aspects like reverse swing. Anderson mentioned observing Khan’s tactics closely and attempting to incorporate them into his own game after facing him several times.

“For me, Zaheer Khan was someone I used to watch a lot to try and learn from. How he used the reverse swing, how he covered the ball when he ran into bowl, that’s something I tried to sort of develop on the back of playing against him quite a few times here,” Anderson told JioCinema.

Zaheer Khan was known for his mastery of the old ball. He served as an inspiration for aspiring cricketers, particularly in the art of the reverse swing and the knuckleball. The left-arm pacer concluded his Test career with 311 scalps in 92 matches at an average of 32.94.

Jasprit Bumrah Is A World-Class Bowler – James Anderson

James Anderson praised Indian pace bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah for his accuracy and skill in reverse swing, describing him as “world-class.”

“With someone of his quality you expect that standard from him. You know that reverse swing can play a big part in India and he’s a great exponent of it. He’s got good pace and is very accurate, very consistent. That yorker we saw to Ollie Pope, he’s got that up his sleeve as well. It’s not a fluke that he’s got to number one in the world. He’s a world-class bowler and from our point of view we weren’t surprised that he put up a performance like that.”

Jasprit Bumrah led the wicket-taking charts in the ongoing Test series before the fourth Test. The 30-year-old pacer took 17 wickets in three matches with an impressive average of 13.65. Bumrah is anticipated to rejoin the team for the fifth and final test of the series.

Anderson expressed confidence in his ability to keep up with the younger players on the team, despite being 41 years old. He emphasized that he can still match the pace and skills of his younger counterparts in training and on the field, considering age as merely a number.

Also read: Watch: 42-year young James Anderson takes a brilliant diving catch to dismiss Yashasvi Jaiswal