James Anderson bullish on England’s probabilities of pulling off file chase on fourth day of Visakhapatnam Test

With England dealing with an uphill activity in attempting to search out 332 runs with 9 wickets in hand on the fourth day of the second Test in Visakhapatnam, James Anderson says the staff is trying to chase it in double fast time and would have even backed itself to get 600 runs. 

“The chat last night from the coach (Brendon McCullum) was that if they get 600, we are going to go for it. That makes it very clear to everyone that we are going to try and do it tomorrow. I know there are 180 overs left in the game, but we are trying to do in 60 or 70. That’s just the nature of the way we play. We saw that tonight with Rehan [Ahmed] going out there and playing his shots in the last over. He wasn’t going to block it out. He wanted to go out there and chase those runs down, even tonight,” Anderson mentioned on the finish of the third day’s play on Sunday. 

The 41-year-old additionally took a shot at India’s strategy within the second innings and mentioned the host was uncertain of what number of runs could be ample to defend regardless of having a wholesome lead. 

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“The nerves were there to see today. The way they [India] batted; they didn’t know how many was enough. They were quite cautious at times, even when they had a big lead.” 

India was bowled out for 255 within the second innings after it regarded primed to increase its lead past 400 with Shubman Gill and Axar Patel going robust. However, as soon as Gill perished, India’s innings was like a rudderless ship, because the final 5 wickets fell for simply 35 runs.

The pacer additionally mentioned that the totally different reactions of opposition groups to the best way England has been taking part in Test cricket for the previous two years provides to the conviction that it’s doing one thing proper, and Sunday felt like such a day. 

“There have been moments throughout the last two years, particularly in the last 12 months, that made us think as a team we are doing something well because of the way teams have reacted. Going back to the Ashes, first ball of the Ashes, having a point on the boundary, sends a message that we are doing something right. I don’t know if intimidating is the right word, but we have put some different thoughts in the minds of the opposition or captains’ minds. It definitely felt like that today,” Anderson mentioned.

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Adding on to England’s revolutionary strategy to Test cricket, which doesn’t imagine in settling for a draw or happening the defensive, Anderson, who’s on his sixth tour to India, mentioned this one felt refreshingly totally different. 

“It feels different from the previous tours I have been on. Everything we are thinking about is: how do we get the next wicket? There is no consideration of controlling the run rate or keeping it tight for a bit. It’s literally trying to take wickets. For me, that is great. Since Ben [Stokes] took over, it has made me think a little differently about the game; I think a little bit outside the box,” he mentioned. 

For now, although, England faces a frightening activity, however Anderson believes the pitch remains to be good to bat on, and the dressing room is brimming with optimism.

“The wicket is still pretty good. The odd one is keeping low, but you expect that… We have so much quality in that dressing room. There are guys in there thinking they can get us 150 tomorrow and win us the game.”