Jimmy nails India at Lord’s
World-class bowling from Jimmy and Woakes equals perfect storm for India
JIMMY ANDERSON took five wickets for a rampant England yesterday as India were bowled out for 107 on a rain-soaked second day of the second Test at Lord’s. Following a first-day washout, only 35.2 overs were possible but it didn’t stop Anderon taking five for 20. ‘I’d have been so disappointed if I’d messed up because they were the ideal conditions to bowl in,’ he said.
That was the perfect storm for India. On and off all day, with rain spicing up the pitch. Batting was not easy. But make no mistake, that was brilliant bowling from England. In particular, the swing bowling from Jimmy anderson and Chris Woakes was world class.
Yes, the conditions helped them but they nailed their lengths superbly and there was some unplayable stuff in there.
Four years ago at Lord’s, India were confronted with a green top, only for anderson and Stuart Broad to bowl too short on the first day and let them off the hook. So credit must go to Joe Root and bowling coach Chris Silverwood for ensuring that all four of their seamers got their lengths right.
In the past, people have said it’s hard to persuade two blokes with 900- odd test wickets between them to pitch the ball further up than they are used to. and, in fairness, anderson and Broad have always been able to point to their excellent records as proof that they know exactly what they are doing.
But, on the evidence of this game and the last one at Edgbaston, something has changed. England are getting much better at assessing the conditions and then reacting immediately.
It is why anderson was able to bowl Murali Vijay with the fifth ball of the match — he was straight in the groove.
and the key to that dismissal was how late it swung. g Vijay was aimingming to leg because thee ball had got three-quarters uaray of the way to him without t moving through the air.
Late swing did for Virat Kohli too — but in this instance Woakes made very good use of the crease.
he went wider, der, which persuaded aded Kohli to aim to leg. When the ball swung att the th last minute, it took the outside edge. top-class bowling.
It was a good example of why I would have Woakes in my side every time in home tests. Both andrew Strauss and Ed Smith have spoken about picking horses for courses, which is fine by me. Pick Woakes in England, and someone with a bit more pace abroad.
If there is one grumble, it is a familiar one — the slip catching. the cordon just looks unsettled, with new faces and wicketkeepers trying to learn a new skill. Slip catching takes time to learn. You cannot just slot people in.
I’ve said before I would have Root in my cordon — even though he dropped one today — but he obviously prefers to lead the side from mid-off. But at the moment England are having to create more chances than they should in order to bowl a team out.
What was instructive, though, was that on the two occasions Woakes had a catch put down by Jos Buttler at second slip, he took a wicket with his very next ball — and Buttler caught them both.
that said a lot about both men. Woakes is not one to let his head drop. he had a quick word with Buttler, but then just got on with the job and nailed the next delivery. and Buttler was able to put his mistakes out of his mind very quickly. there is a lot of character in this side.
above all, though, this was a day to praise the bowlers. It was a near-perfect performance, and reminded me of the first morning at trent Bridge against australia in 2015.
that day, Broad ran through them all by himself. this was a real team effort.