James Anderson spent too many years - mostly as a kid, recently as a player - watching Australia embarrass England Down Under to want to let up on the old enemy now.
With a chance to win the Ashes outright instead of just retain them with a drawn series, the 24-year-old pace England paceman is eager to win the fifth test in Sydney beginning Monday to complete a 3-1 series win and end a 24-year winning drought in Australia.
“When I was growing up as a kid, watching us come over here and struggle, then being involved in 2006-7, that was really tough,” Anderson said Friday.
Australia won the 2006-7 series 5-0 to regain the Ashes.
“So all of us want to go home with a winning series, not just retaining the Ashes, we’re not going to settle for that now,” he added. “We’ve still got a 24-year record that we want to put to bed and we’re not going to settle for a 2-2 series.”
He said his own form remained fresh despite carrying much of the load of England’s bowling attack. He suffered a side strain in Perth which put him in doubt for the Melbourne test where England officially retained the Ashes with an innings win.
“I’m feeling pretty good,” Anderson said. “I’ve bowled quite a lot of overs in the series in a reasonably short space of time but my body’s feeling pretty good so I’m confident I’ll be fit for Sydney.”
Anderson said Australia will miss the presence of captain Ricky Ponting, who is out with a broken finger.
“He has been out of form, but he’s a fine player and a real wicket that we cherish,” Anderson said. “So he’ll be a big loss for them.”
