The fight involving James Anderson and Virat Kohli appears to be leaning in Anderson’s favour after he dismissed the latter for only 7 runs in the 3rd Test at Headingly. After the events of the 2nd Test at Lords, the experienced seamer stated that it was important to just let the ball speak for itself. And it worked for England, who packed the visitors out just for 78 runs.

During the 2nd Test match, Anderson and his teammates were swept away by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami’s astonishing unbroken 89-run combination. The English bowlers had lost their heads and were more interested in delivering bouncers and arguing with the batsmen.

However, in the opening hour of play, Anderson was spot on, taking 3 important wickets and focusing on getting things done for England in the favorable bowling conditions available at Headingly.

We were just making a point of trying to focus on what we do well: Anderson

“We have made a conscious effort of trying to just focus on us, on what we do well and try and ignore everything else, the outside noise or wherever they might be going on, and just yet and make sure there’s a real focus on what we do well,” Anderson said after the day’s play.

Anderson also stated that in the dressing room, he talked about the team’s performance rather than its weaknesses. “Yeah, I think there was a bit of chat about that. We were just making a point of trying to focus on what we do well.”

“I think that you know the first three or four days at Lords we probably played brilliantly and, we didn’t really get involved in too much discussion. Maybe until day three, and then after that, maybe just at times it did affect a little bit or, as individuals, it did affect a little bit.”

Anderson removed the Indian captain for only 7 runs once more. This is the 2nd time in the series that the experienced paceman has beaten the right-handed batsman, and he is pleased that he has already managed to maintain Kohli calm.

“I think so (it was special). We have had some great battles over the years. He is a fantastic player and someone you want to keep quiet as a team. Especially, in a five-match series, if he gets going he can be very disruptive.”

“I think the way we have bowled to him throughout the series has been very very good. We just got to keep doing that and keep him quiet as often as we can.”