Anderson lauded as "a master of his craft" by Australia legend Chappell
Former Australia captain Ian Chappell has labelled James Anderson "a master of his craft" after he helped England complete an innings victory over India in the fourth Test at Headingley.
Anderson sparked a dramatic collapse in India's first innings, taking 3-6 from just eight overs as England bowled them out for 78.
In the second innings, Anderson bowled brilliantly with the second new ball in partnership with Ollie Robinson, helping England complete a stunning win by an innings and 76 runs.
In his column for ESPNcricinfo, Chappell was full of praise for the evergreen Anderson, writing: "The collapse at Headingley was engineered by a master of his craft.
"James Anderson is the best at his art; his ability to control swing in both directions and disguise his intentions is masterly.
"The remorseless way he sets up batters with the skill of a seasoned copper makes him an unstoppable force on his day.
"Anderson's longevity, and the fact that he achieves consistent movement without periodically losing one or other of his main deliveries, means he's unique as a swing bowler.
"I had the pleasure of watching close up as Bob Massie conducted a masterclass in swing bowling at Lord's in 1972.
"He captured 16 wickets on debut – eight in each innings – and mesmerised the English batters with prodigious swing.
"There were other occasions when Massie consistently swung the ball and troubled batters but his Test career was over less than 200 days after his Lord's epic.
"Anderson has done it successfully for 166 Tests, with no end in sight to his swing-bowling supremacy.
"India's top order may have been humiliated by a 39-year-old taunter, but it's easier to accept when you succumb to a champion.
"The big wicket that really put the skids under India was that of their captain, Virat Kohli. This was the seventh time Anderson has dismissed Kohli in Test matches, and despite knowing how the ambush was planned, Kohli was unable to avoid such a deftly laid trap.
"On my retirement, a number of cricket enthusiasts gleefully reproached me, 'Gee you got out to John Snow a lot.'
"My response was, 'At least I was getting out to one of the best.' Not that it's any great consolation, but Kohli will have similar sentiments.
"It also stands to reason that Kohli, as the biggest danger in the Indian line-up, is going to be regularly confronted by Anderson unless Joe Root misplaces his captaincy marbles."
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