The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
‘We’ve got the lot’, claims Anderson after Cardiff victory
Leading wicket taker hails aggressive approach and the men making it happen
James Anderson believes England have “got the lot” after their huge opening Ashes win over Australia.
Anderson hailed England’s new aggressive approach in his column in the Sun, calling their 169-run triumph at Cardiff a “brilliant all- round performance” as new coach Trevor Bayliss’s side kicked off his reign in style.
“It is easy for people to say ‘Go and express yourselves’, but you need the players, talent, confidence and environment to do it. Right now we have got the lot,” he said.
Anderson, who added three wickets against Australia to stretch further out in front as England’s all-time leading wicket taker, also highlighted the relentless pressure put on by his fellow bowlers to help stun the tourists.
He described Stuart Broad’s performance as “superb”, called Mark Wood a “fantastic addition” and praised all-rounders Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali before saluting “golden balls” Joe Root.
Root put in a glittering display, following up a first-innings 134 with the two wickets that helped close out the victory on Saturday.
“Joe is a real golden balls right now. He can do no wrong. His off-spinners have a happy knack of taking wickets,” Anderson added.
Root’s county coach Jason Gillespie echoed Anderson’s sentiments by eulogising the 24-year-old in the Guardian.
“In Joe Root we are seeing a batsman who is blossoming on the international stage and at this point in time I don’t think any team has found a genuine way to knock him over,” he said.
Gillespie, who was linked with the England coaching role before Bayliss was appointed, said there was no chance Australia underestimated Root and held up his first innings knock as an example for any young batsman to learn from.
“That century on day one, when he came in at 43 for three, showed what his game is all about: positive intent,” he added.
“Being dropped second ball was quickly erased from the memory and the hundred he peeled off from there was clinical in that he took the attacking option whenever Australia’s bowlers strayed even fractionally.”