Ashes 2023: I do not think I am bowling particularly badly – James Anderson

England’s veteran James Anderson feels he hasn’t bowled particularly badly in the ongoing Ashes against Australia but admitted he is going through a lean patch, which he hasn’t done in the last decade. Anderson hasn’t looked at his absolute best as he has scalped only three wickets in two Test matches at an average of 75.33.

In fact, after the first Test match at Edgbaston, Anderson admitted that such a pitch was his kryptonite as there was hardly any help for the fast bowlers. Anderson could only take a solitary wicket in the opening Test whereas he returned with two scalps in the second game.

In fact, Anderson has failed to find his groove after recovering from injury. Furthermore, the veteran pacer hasn’t found any swing, which has led to his downfall in the first two games.

“I will be honest,” Anderson wrote in his column in The Telegraph. “You want to contribute in the big series and I cannot remember having two such quiet games in a row for at least the past 10 years.

“I feel like I have always contributed at some stage. But I do not think I am bowling particularly badly; I am just going through a lean patch, which you do not want to happen in an Ashes … I am saying lean patch but it is only two games out of 181.

“I am not going to criticise the pitch again. They have not suited me so far but I have found ways of getting wickets in the past on flat pitches. At the moment I am just not finding that knack.

Anderson hasn’t been up to the mark in the Ashes and it has helped Australia get in front as they have taken a 2-0 lead. The 40-year-old has done a majestic job for England throughout his career but he has failed to get the job done in the ongoing series.

It will be interesting to note if England will back under-fire Anderson for the third Test match, which will be played at Leeds, Headingley from Thursday onwards.