James Anderson said he was enjoying the responsibility of spearheading England attack and his five wicket haul would cement his place in the team.
LONDON: James Anderson said he was enjoying the responsibility of spearheading England attack and hoping that his five-wicket haul on the third morning of the first cricket Test would cement his place in the team.
"During the one-day matches against West Indies, I felt I had a bit more responsibility and really enjoyed that and it's the same again today," said Anderson after finishing with career-best figures of 24.2-8-42-5, as England dismissed India for 201 in reply to their first innings total of 298.
"I see this as a chance to show what form I'm in. Obviously, it's a pretty strong attack we've got (when at full strength) and we'll have to see whether I can cement a place in that."
The paceman, who came into the team as a replacement for an injured Matthew Hoggard, said he held a threat every time he ran in to bowl but his swift executions to got him the prized wickets of Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly besides Mahendra Dhoni and Zaheer Khan.
But described his plotting of Indian batting collapse as his best performance in England shirt.
"That's the best I've bowled for a while, and the best-ever in an England shirt. I'm really pleased with how it's coming out, and I'm really happy with the way I bowled all the way through the innings," said Anderson, who picked second five-wicket haul in three Tests.
"We stuck to our plans and Chris (Tremlett) and Ryan (Sidebottom) bowled really well. On another day it could have been one of them getting a five-wicket haul," Anderson said.
But his most cherished victim was Sourav Ganguly who had his furniture disturbed by the one that beat him for both pace and movement with a big banana "inswinger" that beat the batsman's defences.
"I've been constantly working on the inswinger. I've still not perfected it, it's still not going exactly where I want it to, but it's a lot better and hopefully it can get even better.
"I'm more confident bowling it in matches, and it's a really dangerous ball to have, especially when my stock ball is an outswinger."
With Ryan Sidebottom (4/65) complimenting his effort from the other end, the pace duo knocked down the last six India wickets for mere 46 runs.
"Both me and Ryan would both say we've not really shown what we can do at this level," said Anderson.
"Obviously Ryan has had a great summer so far, and now I can start showing what I can do as well. I've done a lot of work on my action and fitness, and I needed a lot of overs under my belt. Thankfully I've got that this summer."
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}