Jimmy Anderson admits he loves playing at Lord's after superb five-for

Jimmy Anderson admits he loves playing at Lord’s after a remarkable seventh five-for at the historic ground – and urges his side to bat for the whole third day to pressurise India

  • Anderson took five for 62 as India slipped from 276-3 overnight to 364 all out 
  • Joe Root’s measured unbeaten 48 helped England to 119-3 in reply by stumps 
  • Anderson, 39, hailed the ‘extra bit special’ atmosphere at the Home of Cricket

Jimmy Anderson spoke of his enduring love of Lord’s after claiming his seventh Test five-for at cricket’s most famous ground to keep England in the game against India.

Anderson took five for 62 as India slipped from their overnight 276 for three to 364 all out, before an unbeaten 48 from Joe Root helped England to 119 for three in reply by stumps on the second evening of the second Test.

‘I love it here,’ he said. ‘It does seem to bring the best out of me. I made my debut and took my first five-for here, and to get seven five-fors is incredible. There’s something that extra bit special about Lord’s. Hopefully it’s not the last time I’m on the honours board.’

England’s James Anderson (above) became the oldest seamer to take a Test five-for since 1951

Anderson only played in this game after a scan confirmed that a problem with his thigh was nothing more than tightness.

And the evergreen seamer said England now had to bat for all of the third day to put India under pressure as both sides chase a 1-0 lead in this five-match series.

‘There wasn’t much swing today, so hopefully we can do our best to get as close to them as possible, if not past them.’

Anderson, 39, described the ‘extra bit special’ atmosphere at the Home of Cricket, Lord’s

But he expressed sympathy for his former Lancashire team-mate Haseeb Hameed, who was bowled first ball by Mohammed Siraj in his first Test innings for nearly five years.

‘Cricket’s cruel sometimes,’ said Anderson. ‘He’s worked incredibly hard in the past few years and done everything right, scoring a stack of runs. And he’s been unbelievable in the nets.

‘I do feel for him, but he’s got another innings in this game and I’m sure he’ll get another chance later in the series to show what he can do.’




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