Anderson: Attack is still our best line of defence

JIMMY ANDERSON insists new-look England will go on the attack again at Edgbaston today despite staring down the barrel of defeat against India.

Ben Stokes’ side trail the tourists by 332 runs with five first-innings wickets remaining after a chastening second day of the rearranged fifth Test of a series in which they trail 2-1.

However, Jonny Bairstow, who has scored quick-fire back-toback hundreds, remains at the crease for the hosts, and he has been joined by skipper Stokes after nightwatchman Jack Leach fell late on.

England’s plight is similar to their last Test against New Zealand at Headingley. Then, Bairstow and Stokes came together at 22 for four, and the former went on to smash 162 as the home side surpassed the Kiwis’ first-innings total of 329 and went on to secure victory.

Asked whether England could continue their new aggressive tactics given the match situation, Anderson said: ‘I’ve got a fair feeling that our best line of defence tomorrow will be attack. The way Brendon McCullum and Stokesy have gone about the last few weeks, the way we have got ourselves out of sticky situations has been by trying to put pressure back on the opposition. I don’t see tomorrow being any different. Our batters are naturally aggressive.

‘We want to score and move the game forward. That is what we will try and do. Unless we get a message otherwise, I think that will be pretty much the way we play.’

Anderson claimed his 32nd five-wicket haul yesterday but India racked up 416 as No10 Jasprit Bumrah smashed 29 runs off one Stuart Broad over, which went for a world record 35.

‘We are up against it, but we have been in this position before through this summer,’ added Anderson. ‘We have plenty of guys willing to fight and get us back into the game.’