500 not on Anderson’s mind
FATE has served James Anderson well so far, and he will be trusting in it again at Lord’s today as he tries to ease the pressure of expectation at the imminent prospect of his 500th Test wicket.
It is a unique achievement among Englishmen, and one many were anticipating at Headingley last week only for the Lancashire ace to follow his first-innings 5-76 with an uncharacteristic blank as the West Indies pulled off a shock series-levelling victory.
But Anderson will refuse to fret if his rewards still do not come in the series decider, knowing from his 128 Tests to date that is sometimes how it works in cricket.
As for that 500 moment – which will see England’s all-time leading wickettaker join just five other bowlers, including only two fellow seamers – he will keep doing his damnedest to put it out of his mind. Said Anderson: “I know it’s there, but I’m trying not to think about it.
“I’m a bit of a believer in fate, so if it’s meant to be this week then it will happen – as long as we get the win I’m not too fussed.”
Anderson freely admits his reliance on the concept of destiny is a tactic to dodge the bowler’s occasional blues.
“You can use it as a crutch,” he said. “When it’s not your day you can try and brush it off because cricket is a game where you can bowl out of your skin and get no wickets, you can bowl a pile of rubbish and get ‘five-for.’
“You’ve got to think that way to keep your sanity.”