The Hindu : Anderson in the fast lane

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 26, 2003

Sport

Sport - World Cup

Anderson in the fast lane

By Our Special Correspondent

PAARL FEB. 25. England has discovered a fast bowler capable of going a long way and sending the right vibes in the big league. He bowls straight from close to the wicket and has the ability to get the ball to move in the air prodigiously and at good speed. Jimmy Anderson has won two World Cup matches for England.

Nasser Hussain is parading England's prized possession in the World Cup and the world's best batsmen have to take notice of him.

Anderson doesn't strive for pace, but bowls consistently between 135 kmph and a little over 140. The Pakistan batsman came a cropper against him at the Newlands on Saturday. He made batsman like Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Saeed Anwar and Rashid Latif week kneed and tremble. His 4 for 28 won England its third World Cup match and himself a second Man of the Match award. Anderson is endowed with the right body frame, does not have excess fat and has great qualities to fulfil his dream.

Last summer, England was raving about fine prospects like Simon Jones and Steve Harmison. Jones made his debut against India at Lord's and proved his worth, but thereafter disappeared from the scene because of a side strain.

Bad luck followed him in Australia and a terrible knee injury has virtually threatened his career. Harmison made his debut against India at Trent Bridge and saw young Parthiv Patel and Zaheer Khan thwart him.

England suffered in the home summer. Darren Gough was crippled by a knee injury and made the odd appearance. Andrew Flintoff was used sparingly, leaving Matthew Hoggard to shoulder the responsibilities. The selectors managed with Dominic Cork and Craig White. Nobody knew about Anderson.

The story that was doing the rounds when the England selectors were obsessed with Jones and Harmison last summer was that Bob Willis was quietly whispering into the ears of the people saying: "Watch out for this boy, Anderson." Willis knows a thing or two about fast bowling.

Anderson was a busy boy making the batsmen hop in the Lancashire league which fetched him a late call for the County team. He played 13 first class matches and took 50 wickets at 22. 28 and in fifteen limited over matches, took 26 wickets at 23. 53. The reward for a successful first season with Lancashire was an ECB Academy seat to train in Adelaide with Rodney Marsh.

He played for England in Australia in the VB series and dismissed Adam Gilchrist in his first match at the MCG. He played nine matches, took 13 wickets and won a place in the World Cup squad.

This is what he told the press in Australia. "It was only 18 months ago when I was struggling with my confidence in the Lancashire second team. I have not always bowled fast and I'm not sure where it came from. It all happened quite suddenly one winter when I turned up at the indoor nets. I was 17 or 18 at the time and I just let it go and it came out fast. I was just a medium pace seam bowler."

It was his County coach Mike Watkinson who made the difference. Fast bowlers get into problems doing the wrong things, technique wise. Anderson runs in smoothly and has a clean action. At times it appeared that he was bowling faster than what the speed gun was indicating on Saturday. Anderson was bowling well within himself and concentrating on direction and not really sacrificing speed. He showed a great heart, teaming up with Andrew Caddick.

Well, Lancashire is happy and so is England. The future looks bright for Jimmy Anderson. He has already taken nine World Cup wickets. He has in all 22 from 12 matches. That's good for a start. Certainly Hussain is not complaining.

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