JIMMY QUICK TO TARGET SMITH
AT THE astonishing age of 39, paceman 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 the chief of Australia’s batting order.
Anderson is preparing for his ninth Ashes series and fifth tour to Australia.
He will again be a crucial figure for an England side missing strike weapons Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes.
Speaking exclusively on the final episode of Fox Cricket’s Road to the Ashes TV podcast series, 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,” he said. “He’s the one they rely on for the volume of runs. Obviously he’s been supported by guys around him like David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne … 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 series begins at the Gabba on December 8. Broad dismissed Warner seven times in the 2019 series in the UK but on Australian soil the destructive opening batter has an incredible record.
According to Anderson, the battle between the two could define the series.