Virat Kohli’s batting dominance against James Anderson later in his career left the legendary English bowler feeling “inferior,” as admitted by Anderson himself.
Legendary English fast bowler James Anderson drew the curtain on his illustrious Test career on Friday. England’s emphatic win over West Indies at Lord’s sealed a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, marking a fitting farewell for Anderson. He retires as the highest wicket-taker in Test history for a fast bowler, claiming 704 wickets in 188 matches.
In a post-match interview with Sky Sports, Anderson reminisced about his career highlights, including his memorable battles with Indian batter Virat Kohli. Anderson acknowledged the ebb and flow of these encounters, admitting moments of dominance over Kohli early on, followed by a period where the Indian batter proved nearly unplayable. “You go so up and down. Some series you feel amazing and some not quite on it and a batter gets the better of you. Playing against Virat Kohli in the early days, you felt you could get him out every ball and then recently like you can’t get him out at all. You feel so inferior,” Anderson told.
ALSO READ | “Prioritise Really Good Leagues Like IPL”: Tim Paine On Streamlining League Cricket
The rivalry between Anderson and Kohli is well-documented. During India’s tour of England in 2014, Kohli struggled against Anderson’s bowling, managing only 134 runs across five Tests with four dismissals by the English quick. However, a remarkable turnaround followed in 2018 when Kohli amassed nearly 700 runs on English soil, remaining unbeaten against Anderson throughout the series. Their final meeting came in 2021, with Anderson dismissing Kohli twice. Overall, Kohli fell to Anderson seven times in Tests, scoring 305 runs at an average of 43.57.
Significantly, Anderson’s success against India is undeniable. He took a career-best 149 wickets in 39 Tests against them. His bowling prowess against arch-rivals Australia was also significant, with 119 wickets claimed in 39 Tests.
Last Updated on July 13, 2024
