As Jasprit Bumrah threw a series of bouncers at him during the Lord’s Test, England pace bowler James Anderson acknowledged that his squad was out for payback. Anderson, the most effective fast bowler in Test cricket, was hit in the helmet, arm, and chest during the English first innings. Here is James Anderson About England’s Tactics.

James Anderson About England’s Tactics

Once Bumrah stepped in to bat on Day 5, the Three Lions’ pacers threw bouncers at him. The strategy, however, backfired spectacularly, as Bumrah and Mohammed Shami put on an unbroken 89-run stand, with Shami going on to reach a courageous half-century with certain powerful strokes.

And when that day began, England was in command, but Shami and Bumrah’s stand might have ended their possibility of success. Anderson, who ranks 3rd all-time in wicket-taking, claimed that their bowlers were unable to effectively employ short and full-length deliveries.

We got the balance of bouncers and fuller balls wrong: Anderson

“Potentially there was a bit of us wanting revenge on them when Bumrah batted on the last morning and we got carried away but we were genuinely trying to bowl them out. Sometimes you get it wrong as a bowling attack”.

“Rooty has taken the brunt of the blame for it, but as a bowling attack, we have to be good enough to take those last few wickets. We got the balance of bouncers and fuller balls wrong,” Anderson opened in an Interaction.

Following Ollie Robinson dismissed Ishant Sharma as well as Rishabh Pant in rapid succession, Shami and Bumrah teamed up. While battling off the aggressive English pace assault, both Indian batsmen not only executed their strokes but also demonstrated excellent rear-guard activity.

“I felt every time I bowled at the stumps, they blocked it or found a gap to squirt it into to get off strike. When that happens, you go to the short ball. You have catchers out knowing they will take it on. It felt like the best wicket-taking option but it was definitely the period where we lost the game,” he added.

The 2nd Test was won by India by 151 runs, giving them a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. The 3rd Test will take place in Leeds on August 25.

Also read: We Play Together, We Play To Win: Virat Kohli