England fast bowler James Anderson launched a scathing attack on the Edgbaston pitch following Australia’s thrilling two-wicket victory in the first Ashes Test. Expressing his frustration, Anderson criticized the unresponsiveness of the pitch for pacers. He even suggested that his Ashes career might be over if similar tracks are prepared for the remaining four Tests.

In his Daily Telegraph column, Anderson did not hold back in his assessment of the pitch, stating, “If all the pitches are like that I’m done in the Ashes series,”. “That pitch was like kryptonite for me. There was not much swing, no reverse swing, no seam movement, bounce, or pace.”

The legendary bowler, who is just 14 wickets away from reaching the historic milestone of 700 Test wickets, had a challenging outing in the Ashes opener, managing only one wicket after toiling hard for 38 overs across both innings.

Acknowledging his below-par performance, Anderson admitted, “I know I wasn’t on top of my game this week. It was not my best performance.” Surprisingly, he was not given the ball during the intense last hour of the first Test, as England captain Joe Root opted to bowl himself and Joe Root and later relied on Stuart Broad and Ollie Robinson with the new ball.

Reflecting on the pitch conditions, Anderson revealed that he had discussions with Ben Stokes, and they agreed that the taller bowlers were gaining more from the surface. He understood the team’s decision but expressed his disappointment at being unable to contribute effectively due to the unresponsive pitch.

Despite his frustration, Anderson remained pragmatic, acknowledging that not every game would yield wickets. He said, “I’ve tried to sharpen my skills to bowl in any conditions over the years, but everything I tried made no difference. I felt like I was fighting an uphill battle. Having played for a long time, I realize you can’t take wickets every game. Sometimes it is not your week. It felt like that for me.”

Interestingly, at the start of the Ashes, Ben Stokes expressed his desire for batting-friendly pitches to promote aggressive cricket from the England batsmen. However, Anderson remained determined to bounce back in the upcoming matches and contribute to the team’s success.

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With the series heading to Lord’s, Anderson expressed his hope for better performance, stating, “It’s a long series, and hopefully, I can contribute at some point. I know I have more to offer and contribute to the team. I want to make up for it at Lord’s, and all I can do is turn up on Sunday and prepare to play.”

As England seeks to bounce back in the Ashes series, Anderson’s experience and determination will be crucial in spearheading the team’s bowling attack. The veteran bowler’s ability to adapt and deliver in different conditions will be tested as he looks to significantly impact the upcoming matches.

The post “If all the pitches are like that, I’m done…” James Anderson Scathing Bombshell On His Glorious Test Career appeared first on CricInformer.