Last Updated on 1 year by Charbel Coorey
Cricket News: Michael Vaughan questions England’s selection of James Anderson | Michael Vaughan’s comments on James Anderson
Former England skipper Michael Vaughan believes that England suffered in Ashes 2023 for their sentimental selection of pacer James Anderson in the playing XI.
Vaughan concedes that picking the 40-year-old fast bowler was necessary considering that he is a legend of the game. However, he simultaneously mentions that an alternate pick would have fared better in the series as Australia retained the Ashes after the final day of the fourth Test was washed out due to rains.
“We all agreed that James Anderson deserved to have that sentimental pick because he’s a legend of the game, but it may have cost England,” Vaughan says in the BBC Ashes Daily podcast. He adds, “Jimmy, in the three Test matches that he’s played in this series, has just had no impact at all. I don’t remember him getting a key wicket at any stage and that’s very unlike Jimmy Anderson.”
Vaughan pinpoints lack of zip in James Anderson
Going into details, Vaughan pointed at the lack of zip in Anderson’s bowling in this series. He gave the example of Chris Woakes, saying that the pacer has shown what can be done by inducing that bit of additional incisiveness from the Duke’s ball.
Anderson expressed his disappointment at the kind of the tracks dished out in the first game of the 2023 Ashes series. At 40, questions are being raised on whether England should move on from the veteran pacer and reboot the pace attack, especially considering that their next Test assignment after the Ashes will be in India in January-February 2024.
“He loves playing cricket, he loves bowling, he loves being out in the battle, he loves the dressing room. I think he’ll find it very, very difficult to leave the game as a player. He’s played on for such a long period of time, he clearly is absolutely in love with playing the game and his body is pretty good,” Vaughan says, whilst adding that the English team management will find a way to keep Anderson in the squad if he wishes to continue playing the sport.
