Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra cautioned Indian batsmen that they should not take James Anderson lightly and said that Anderson may not be as fast as his younger days but has the ability to take the wickets.
James Anderson is coming into the series on the back of a six-wicket haul in the first innings of the second Test against Sri Lanka and will be high on confidence.
The talismanic pacer is also the highest wicket-taking seam bowler in the history of Test cricket, with 606 scalps to his name.
James Anderson made his Test debut at Lord's in 2003 against Zimbabwe. Later in 2018, the pacer became the highest wicket-taking seam bowler in Test cricket, where he surpassed Glenn McGrath's tally of 563 wickets, against India at The Kia Oval.
However, in the latest video shared on his Facebook page, Aakash Chopra warned Team India against veteran England pacer James Anderson, stating the hosts shouldn’t take him lightly.
James Anderson points out the changes Virat Kohli made to succeed in England during 2018 tour
“The Indian batsmen should not take James Anderson lightly. He may not have the pace and penetration that he used to have in 2012 but he has the ability and the brains to take wickets. The Indian batsmen will have to watch the seam closely and commit themselves on the front foot,” Aakash Chopra said in a video posted on his Facebook page.
Akash Chopra advised Indian batsmen to stand outside the crease to counter James Anderson which will make the pacer bowl shorter which isn't his top skill.
“You will have to believe that all balls will be pitched up where you will have to come on the front foot. He will not let the batsmen leave the balls in these conditions and make them play.
I will say that you should stand outside the crease when James Anderson bowls so that you force him to bowl short because he does not have the pace to push you back by bowling bouncers,” said Aakash Chopra.
Chopra further lauded James Anderson's skill to take the ball away from the batters and said that Indian batsmen will have to be wary of him.
“He is not only looking for leg-before but setting you up by bringing the balls in and then bowling the leg-cutter where you will get the outside edge and the keeper stands further up in such situations nowadays. So, you will have to be wary of him,” he concluded.
James Anderson has scalped 110 wickets at an impressive average of 25.98 in the 27 Test matches he has played against India.
