Jimmy’s end game
JIMMY ANDERSON says he was “blown away” by the gesture from his county Lancashire, a club he has loved and supported man and boy, to rename the Pavilion End in his honour.
But just in case anyone believes it brings the end of his international career a step closer, he insists he is as fit and hungry as ever to keep contributing to England.
“Having an end named after you is something that usually happens when people have stopped playing or are further down the line, so for it to happen when I’m still playing and potentially bowling from that end in a game is a bit surreal,” said Anderson.
“But it is a huge honour given the link I have with this club and the love I have for it.
“I don’t like looking back too much on my career because I am still playing and I still have things I want to achieve, personally and with this team. In years to come I’m sure I will look back with great fondness but right now I still have things to achieve.”
The renaming will bridge the years to bring together two of Lancashire’s bowling greats with the Brian Statham End at the opposite end of the ground. Like Anderson, he joined the club aged 20 and played REPORTS throughout Red Rose.
Behind Anderson as he spoke on the eve of the fourth Test against South Africa was evidence of one gap in his CV – an Old Trafford honours board for centuries and five-fors without his name on it (Statham’s is listed against his 5-53 against Australia in 1961).
There is also the small matter of 500 Test wickets (he is on 480 his career for the
LIKELY LINE-UPS
now) and the Ashes this winter. “Getting a five-for here would be nice,” he said. “It’s not always been a great ground for me with England but it would be nice if I can get on that board. With regard to the winter, I’d like to win the Ashes again.
“I think we have a very good chance in Australia and I want to be a part of it – it’s what keeps me going and keeps me hungry to keep playing the game.”
Anderson has been used slightly more sparingly by Joe Root since he took over the captaincy which has raised some questions about whether his ageing body – he is 35 – is being wrapped in cotton wool with the winter in mind.
Anderson did not get the new ball automatically at the Oval – Root tossed it to Toby Roland-Jones in the second innings – and, in a change of style, England’s leading wicket-taker has been asked to bowl shorter spells.
Yet Anderson says he was happy with how he was being deployed, with the proof of the pudding the fact he is on the verge of featuring in more than three Tests in a series for the first time since India toured three years ago.
“I’ve felt really good in this series and I’m happy that I’ve stayed fit and bowled well. Barring me slipping in the shower or a back spasm overnight, I’ll have played all four games in this series,” said Anderson.
“I’ve had a couple of injuries over the last 12-18 months so staying fit is a priority. And also bowling well is another thing that is going to help me stay in the side.”
England will have a look at the pitch this morning but are likely to name an unchanged side as they seek to secure a 3-1 series verdict.
For all that Root’s men are in confident mood following the Oval triumph, the omens are not good – England have failed to win the final Test in any of their last nine series.
THIS winter’s Ashes series appears to have been secured after Cricket Australia announced they had an agreement in principle with their Cricketers’ Association to solve a pay dispute.