Englandflufftheir linesas Bad Boy Anderson lets fly!
JAMES ANDERSON is facing an International Cricket Council fine for dissent after the leader of England’s attack endured a miserable day entirely in keeping with his team’s fortunes.
Pakistan are in complete control of this pivotal third Test thanks in large part to Azhar Ali’s imperious century – celebrated with the press-up routine invented by captain Misbah-ul-Haq in the first Test of the series at Lord’s.
The tourists won that match and, after losing at Old Trafford last week, are now favourites to repeat the trick here in Birmingham and take a 2-1 lead into next week’s series finale at The Oval after finishing the second day here on 2573, just 40 runs behind England’s first-innings total. Not even the late wicket of Azhar, falling for 139 to the final ball of the day from Chris Woakes, could puncture the despondency.
Things might have been different had Joe Root held on to a catch to dismiss Azhar on 38 off the bowling of Anderson in the first over after lunch. But the chance at second slip went down and Anderson, who had started the day by dismissing Mohammad Hafeez for a duck in the opening over, then found himself in hot water for twice running on the pitch in the evening session.
Coming in the over after Azhar had completed his tenth Test century, Anderson was twice warned by Australian umpire Bruce Oxenford for running on the protected area of the pitch. A third warning would see the 34-yearold removed from England’s attack during this innings, which is likely to conclude at some point today with Pakistan holding a huge lead.
Anderson had been spoken to by Joel Wilson during the morning session for the same offence. But the polite reminder not to transgress was met with a tirade from the Lancastrian.
This is likely to see Anderson fined by the ICC, especially as he was reprimanded for showing disrespect to umpire Sundaram Ravi on the third day of the Lord’s Test against Sri Lanka earlier this summer.
Speaking after the match, Anderson was quick to apologise for his behaviour, saying: “I got a little close on a couple of occasions and I let my frustrations get the better of me.
“But I have apologised to both the umpires.”