Follow UsJames Anderson’s record in India is quite a fascinating one, considering how the Indian conditions have always been much more favourable to the spinners in comparison to the pacers. The 41-year-old has picked up 39 Test wickets in India, averaging just 29, a feat that goes highly under the radar.
But despite the stupendous record, Anderson insisted that there will be occasions in the upcoming five-match Test series against India where the Three Lions could open with two spinners. Yet, the right-arm seamer was insistent that ‘reverse swing’ would play a big part in the result of the series.
"Reverse swing will play a big part. There might be occasions where we don’t open with a seamer. We might open with two spinners. Your role changes a huge amount then, you come on third or fourth change with set batsmen in. That is the challenge of playing in India," said Anderson to The Telegraph.
"I still feel like I’ve got a lot to offer this team. I would not still be doing what I’m doing if I didn’t feel like that," Anderson asserted.
However, Anderson is coming on the back of a dismal home tour against Australia, where he was dropped after a few lacklustre displays. Looking back at those clashes, the Lancashire pacer reckoned that it was his ‘run-up’ that was causing a dip in his form.
“My run-up is the main thing, just trying to make sure it is better. One thing that was not right was my run-up speed. I can’t rely on that fast twitch snap at the crease that I’ve had over the years so I’ve been working on my momentum in my run-up to get speed that way,” Anderson added.
“That feels like it is working really well, the ball is coming out really well and I just need to transfer that outdoors now.”
Despite the results against Australia, Anderson had a huge role to play in England’s dynamic transformation in the longest format.
“I feel the last 5-6 years have been the best of my career. Although the Ashes did not go as well as I wanted it to, there have been many series when I have not bowled well throughout my career and it is just a case of putting in the hard work to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
England certainly know the conditions in India quite well, with the Three Lions’ side being the last team to beat India in India, a feat that is fitting of the hype. Anderson admitted that he is ‘more excited’ going into this tour than the previous India tours.
“I’m more excited going into this tour than previous tours to India. In the past it has been a real slog and we have tried to grind it out. We will look to play the same way of the last two years but be smart about it. Something we have tried to progress is playing that aggressive style but learning what works in different conditions,” Anderson said.
“Nobody had us down to win 3-0 in Pakistan and we can take huge confidence from that. Conditions could be similar, not identical, but slow wickets for seamers and we have to be smart.”
The first of the five-match Tests between India and England will begin on January 25 (Thursday) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.