LONDON, Aug 14: The Lord’s does seem to get the best out of him, veteran England seamer James Anderson said after grabbing his seventh five-wicket haul at the iconic venue during the second Test against India here.
Eighteen years after he made his Test debut with a five-wicket haul against Zimbabwe at Lord’s, Anderson overcame an injury scare en route to capping his 31st fifer.
“There’s something that is extra bit special about Lord’s, certainly for me. I do love it here. It just seemed to bring the best out of me,” said Anderson, playing in his 164th Test, at the press conference after the end of second day’s play.
England struggled to get their first wicket till the 44th over after putting India in under overcast conditions and had to turn to Andeson who cleaned up Rohit Sharma with a stunning delivery and also accounted for Cheteshwar Pujara on day one.
He then returned on day two to dismiss Ajinkya Rahane, Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah as India slipped from 276/3 overnight to 364 all out with Anderson claiming his fourth fifer against India at Lord’s.
He also became the oldest pacer to take a five-for in Tests since 1951.
At 39, Anderson is not getting young, but the veteran pacer hoped he would get to play once again at his “favourite venue”.
“The last few times I’ve been here you do think ‘is this the last time I’m going to play here?’ Hopefully, it’s not my last time here or my last time on the honours board,” said the English veteran. (PTI)
