Jimmy feeling rhythm
Cash rolls in for Rose
JIMMY ANDERSON offered a tantalising glimpse of what might be to come with a masterful four-wicket haul on the final day of England’s drawn opener against a Western Australia XI.
In the summer, England’s all-time leading bowler became only the sixth man in history to pass the 500-wicket mark in Tests.
Joe Root’s side know they need the leader of their attack in the same kind of form if they are to spring a surprise on the Australians in the Ashes – and the early indications are that Anderson will be, starting in Brisbane on November 23.
After an initial five-over spell at the start of the day that saw JUSTIN ROSE took his earnings past £2 million in the past fortnight after a cliffhanger victory at the Turkish Airlines Open delivered back-toback wins on the European Tour for the first time in his career.
Rose birdied three of his last four holes in a final-round 65 to edge home by one stroke and take the Race to Dubai to a photo finish.
A season which looked as if it would be defined by disappointment after missing out on the Masters when losing a play-off with Sergio when he took 24 wickets to help England claim their first away Ashes series in 24 years.
Whether he can do the same here remains to be seen, but he has at least started off on the right note.
“I didn’t have much rhythm first up,” said Anderson. “It didn’t feel great, and there wasn’t much swing either with the new ball.
“But I got better as the day went on. Hopefully I can pick up from where I left off in the summer. It’s very different to English lengths – so you can’t be as full – and they played pretty well and put pressure on us. “But once we got into Garcia is ending in fireworks. “It would have been a B- year probably a couple weeks ago. Now I’m probably at an Aand one putt at Augusta away from being an A+,” said Rose.
“I’ve been very consistent this year. I’ve played a lot of good, solid golf but it just hadn’t converted into wins.
“Now I’ve ticked that box a couple of times it begins to be a pretty the day, we bowled pretty well and reverse swing came into the game later in the afternoon.”
Not many people are giving England a chance, especially as they are missing Ben Stokes.
Anderson feels the series will be closer than people think.
“It looks very even at the moment, but it all depends on which team deal with the pressure best in that first Test match,” he said.
“We are going to make sure that in the next couple of weeks we will prepare well enough so that when we come to good year.” Rose admitted the putt that got away at the 72nd hole at Augusta was in his head as he lined up yesterday’s 12-footer in Antalya.
This time he hit the target before playing partner Nicolas Colsaerts missed from 10 feet.
The win moved Rose into second place in the Race to Dubai and cut Tommy Fleetwood’s lead from 895,770 points to 134,839 heading into this week’s penultimate event in South Africa.
Rose will not be playing at Sun City, whereas Brisbane we’re ready to go.” Anderson got his tour up and running with two wickets in three balls to dismiss Nick Hobson and Will Bosisto during a spell that saw him concede just nine runs in five overs.
He then took two in four deliveries during a third spell that consisted of three maiden overs.
Stuart Broad, Anderson’s new-ball partner and No2 on England’s list of leading wicket-takers, had a patchier start, taking one wicket at the end of a day that saw him concede 64 runs from 13 overs.
But Jake Ball put himself in contention with a disciplined 1-31 off 12 overs.
Craig Overton took two wickets but was more profligate, conceding 70 from 13 overs as he fell behind Ball in the race for the final seamer’s spot for Brisbane.
Chris Woakes was a worry too as the Warwickshire player, England’s third seamer, showed little ability to manipulate the Kookaburra during his 15 wicketless overs.
With Moeen Ali missing this match with a side strain, young leg-spinner Mason Crane impressed in taking two wickets even if he proved a touch expensive.
Crane’s breakthrough came shortly after lunch when he dismissed Josh Phillipe, who had taken on England’s bowlers on his way to 88 from 92 balls.
The 20-year-old Australian, who played club cricket in Newcastle-upon-Tyne last summer, was impressive but Anderson ended up taking the spotlight by the end of the day. Fleetwood is in the field. “As much as I like Justin, it will be good not to see him,” said Fleetwood, who finished 23rd here. “Going back-toback is great golf.”
Henrik Stenson is set to pull out of the final two events of the season after lingering issues with a rib injury.