Former England captain Nasser Hussain on Wednesday, July 19 express delight over the return of James Anderson for the 4th Ashes Test against Australia in Manchester. Anderson, who was not picked for the 3rd Test – an English win at Leeds, was brought back into the XI for the crucial 4th Test as England dropped Ollie Robinson.
Questions were asked about James Anderson’s effectiveness after his poor performances in the first two Tests. Despite being England’s leading wicket-taker in Tests with 688 scalps to his name, Anderson’s performance in the first two matches of the series was underwhelming. He managed to claim only three wickets after which he was not picked for the 3rd Test.
England went down 0-2 after losing the first two matches but bounced back to keep the Ashes series alive with a victory at Headingley, Leeds.
In the first Ashes Test against Australia, he could only dismiss Alex Carey, and his overall performance was far from his usual standards. His lackluster performance continued into the second Test, where he failed to make a significant impact. This dip in form led to some speculation about his age being a factor, but Anderson dismissed these claims, pointing fingers at the batter-friendly nature of the pitches.
“I am really pleased England brought Anderson back. He has bowled on two featherbeds and he is a legend. You don’t lose legendary status in two games,” Nasser Hussain told Sky Sports.
“He is playing on his home ground, from that far end, the breeze is perfect for his out-swinger. You have got Broad’s contest with Warner, then the local legend at the other end,” he added.
