“James Anderson has Cost England The Ashes,” Bold Statement By Michael Vaughan: According to former England captain Michael Vaughan, the selection of James Anderson for the fourth Ashes Test at Emirates Old Trafford may have cost England the match and the series. He asserted that his selection was solely “sentimental” and that Anderson’s performance in the series had been subpar.
After being rested for the previous game, which England won at Headingley, Anderson returned to his home field with great expectations, but he fell short of them. He concluded the game with 1 for 81 in 37 overs with the new ball from the James Anderson End, letting more runs than he had anticipated.
In the three games he has played in this series, Jimmy has only managed to take four wickets at an average of 76.75, which is much less than his usual performance levels. Notably, the legendary bowler hasn’t won an Ashes series since 2015, which calls into question his current level of fitness.
Anderson’s 41-year-old age and physical condition have garnered criticism. Because he couldn’t generate much swing, reverse swing, seam movement, bounce, or speed during the series, there were concerns regarding his performance.
Anderson did not have the impact that England had anticipated their top all-time wicket-taker would have had, even if everyone acknowledged that he was a “sentimental pick” for the fourth Test, which was played on his home ground.
Vaughan also suggested Josh Tongue as an alternative to Anderson, a young, quick player who has already had an impact in one game. Chris Woakes gained more movement than Anderson did, according to Vaughan, who also claims that Anderson lacked the same “zip” he formerly had.
Vaughan told the BBC’s Ashes Daily podcast “We all agreed that James Anderson deserved to have that sentimental pick because he’s a legend of the game, but it may have cost England.”
“Jimmy, in the three Test matches that he’s played in this series, has just had no impact at all. I don’t remember him getting a key wicket at any stage and that’s very unlike Jimmy Anderson.”
“Robert Key [England’s managing director] will deal with that very professionally. I don’t think he’s the kind of guy who will go up to Jimmy and say, ‘Oh, by the way, you’re not going to get another contract.’ I think if Jimmy Anderson wants to carry on, England will work a way that [will allow him to] carry on,” Vaughan added.
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