Ando dismisses age as Smith looms
AT the astonishing age of 39, James Anderson has made it his sign-off mission in Ashes cricket to take down Steve Smith.
The England warhorse went toe to toe with Indian superstar Virat Kohli last month and has now turned his attention to taking down the chief of Australia’s batting order.
Anderson is preparing for his ninth Ashes series and fifth tour to Australia, and will again be a crucial figure for an England side missing strike weapons Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes.
Anderson has declared he wants Smith’s scalp as an early 40th birthday present.
“I think as a bowler you always look at the best player and for me over the last three, four, five years Steve Smith has been Australia’s best player,” Anderson said on Road to the Ashes.
“Obviously he’s been supported by guys around him like David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, so there are other guys around that support him. But he’s been the guy who has been the go to, so he will be the one I’m keen to get out early.”
Anderson said he’s also relishing the chance to have a front row seat to the Stuart Broad v Warner rematch when the Ashes quicks off from the Gabba.
Broad dismissed Warner seven times in the 2019 Ashes series.