Jimmy Anderson calls out curators over Ashes pitch: 'I'm done'
After claiming just one wicket in the first Ashes Test, Jimmy Anderson has made it clear he wants to see changes for the second Test at Lord's.
England quick Jimmy Anderson has sensationally claimed his influence on the Ashes series will be seriously limited of pitches for the remaining four Tests are similar to the one produced at Edgbaston. Despite skipper Ben Stokes flagging before the series that the hosts would prefer 'flat and fast' wickets, Anderson has suggested he'll be 'done' if the following games remain friendly to the batters.
Australia claimed a memorable two-wicket win to claim the first Test, defying criticism they were playing too defensively to seize an early lead in the series. Anderson claimed just one wicket for the match, and used his column in English media outlet The Telegraph to decry the conditions for pacemen.
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While the veteran of 180 Test matches admitted he had been well below his best at Edgbaston and hoped to improve in the second Test at Lords, Anderson said the flat wicket had done him absolutely no favours. It was a remarkable take, especially considering England's aggressive approach to batting, as typified by their brave declaration late on day one.
A lack of swing, bounce, pace and movement off the seam were too much of an obstacle for the 40-year-old quick to overcome. However, those are the conditions the likes of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood could take advantage of equally as much for the visitors.
“I’ve tried over the years to hone my skills so I can bowl in any conditions but everything I tried made no difference. I felt like I was fighting an uphill battle," Anderson wrote.
“There was a bit of rustiness but I gave it everything I could. Having played for a long time, I realise you can’t take wickets every game.
"Sometimes it is not your week. It felt like that for me. It’s a long series and hopefully I can contribute at some point, but if all the pitches are like that I’m done in the Ashes series.”
Australia facing bowling conundrum over Scott Boland
Anderson isn't the only bowler under some degree of pressure heading into the second Test, with Australian coach Andrew McDonald admitting Scott Boland was no certainty to line up at Lord's. Having come into the series boasting an incredible economy in his 14 Tests, Boland found himself unable to prevent a steady flow of runs from England's batting line-up.
The popular Victorian went for an average of 5.65 runs an over at Edgbaston, with McDonald flagging a potential return for Mitchell Starc in the second Test. Much remains to be seen however, before the first ball is bowled at Lords in June 28.
"That probably surprised us how aggressive they were against Scott,” McDonald said. “So that’s something we can look at and find better ways through.
“It’s conditions-based, and I’ve said that from the get-go. We understand there’s going to be huge demand on all our fast bowlers to get through the five Test matches, plus the World Test Championship.
“Josh (Hazlewood) was fit and available, we felt like he was the best on this surface and that might be Mitch next game, who knows?”
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