Even the best of us hit a rough patch. There is generally nothing alarming about it. But when the cracks begin to appear on a regular basis, uncomfortable questions start to get asked. Right now, England fast bowler James Anderson finds himself in such a situation.
This year has not been kind to Anderson. He came back from a knee injury and was nowhere near his best at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, picking up just five wickets from six games. England were below par as a team and Anderson, therefore, escaped specific scrutiny. However, his Test form this year is starting to cause some concern in the England camp.
There is no doubt that Anderson is the most successful England fast bowler of all time, with 406 wickets from 106 matches. He has been their No 1 bowler at home and, recently, a potent weapon overseas. His ability to swing the ball both ways made many believe he is a more accomplished seamer than even South African quick Dale Steyn.
Yet another five-wicket haul for @footitt_mark, @englandcricket… #FootittForEngland #P2bD pic.twitter.com/x7eT5Wgv2A
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) July 19, 2015
But his stats for 2015 paint a grim picture. In seven Test matches, he has 26 wickets to his name at an average of a shade under 30. He had two fruitful outings in all – against the West Indies when he picked up 4-43 and 6-42. At home, where Anderson should ideally have been on top of his game, his record has been abysmal.
Against New Zealand and Australia, Anderson’s tally per innings have been 1-88, 1-31, 2-43, 2-96, 3-43, 0-33, 0-99 and 0-38. The last three efforts have been against the Aussies in the ongoing Ashes and that’s worrying.
His stats pale in comparison to that of his new ball partner Stuart Broad, who is bowling beautifully and has taken 32 wickets in seven
Tests this year. In fact, Broad has been England’s leading light in the bowling department with nine wickets in four Ashes innings.
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No doubt the wickets in England have not been conducive for Anderson, but they have been the same for everyone. Australian fast bowlers raised the bar in the second Test at Lord’s and Anderson has failed to step up. And no respite is expected in the near future.
The England management won’t want the wickets to have any assistance to the fast bowlers as Australia’s are clearly superior. Therefore, more low and slow surfaces will, in all likelihood, be dished out and the 32-year-old Anderson will find the going as tough, if not more.
Even young quick Mark Wood has failed to rattle Australia with pace, as had been promised, and he is operating as a stock bowler at the moment. However, he at least has five wickets to his name this Ashes compared to Anderson’s three.
Even so, England cannot afford two misfiring quicks in their team and they shouldn’t waste any more time in bringing in 29-year-old Derbyshire left-arm quick Mark Footitt.
He is everything you want in a Test match bowler. He is a left-arm bowler, can reach express pace, swings the ball appreciably and has a decade of experience in first-class cricket. He was part of the England training squad that went to Spain prior to the Ashes and one feels it’s time he is given a go.
Australia have two left-arm pacers in their attack – Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc – and they are showing how to get things done using sheer pace and clever angles. A left arm fast bowler will always be the most effective bowler on a flat surface simply because of the unique angle that he bowls with.
Footitt has all three requisites needed in a left-arm seamer – pace, swing and experience. That England went ahead with Wood is a surprise because Footitt was the most successful Championship bowler last season with 82 scalps.
The England management need to realise that they need variety in their bowling attack and both Anderson and Wood can’t play in the remaining three Ashes Test; Footitt simply has to be a part of the team.
The England management won’t be keen to drop Anderson rightaway, if the need arises, and would rather ask Wood to carry the drinks. But that doesn’t take anything away from the fact that Anderson has been well below par and even if he manages to hold on to his spot, it would be because there is a junior bowler in the team who doesn’t have great stats to boast.
For England, the best way forward is to select Footitt for Wood and worry about Anderson’s alarming dip in form another day. At least if Footitt and Broad fire, it will give Jimmy some breathing space. If not, then Anderson will have nowhere to hide by the end of the fifth Test at the Oval.
