James Anderson who was the first pacer to reach 600 Test wickets was full of praise for Virat Kohli and highlighted changes in his approach in 2018. James Anderson who is England’s leading pacer in both Tests and ODIs is ecstatic with joy after reaching the milestone of 600 Test wickets, becoming the first pacer to do so. He achieved this remarkable feat in Tests during the third match of the three-match Test series against Pakistan.
He also was full of praise for the Indian cricket team’s captain Virat Kohli. He reflected the changes adapted by Virat Kohli to suit his game enabling him to come back as a completely different player on the 2018 England tour. The Indian skipper Virat Kohli is regarded as one of the best in the business nowadays since making his debut in 2008 for India.
James Anderson Says Virat Kohli Was A Lot More Restrained In 2018
Since October 2017 he is the top-ranked ODI batsman and is also 2nd in Test rankings and averages more than 50 in all the three formats. The 31-year-old who captains India and RCB in IPL has scored 11867 ODI and 7240 Test runs besides 2794 T20I runs averaging a staggering 59.34 in ODIs, 53.63 in Tests and 50.8 in T20Is.
On his first Test trip to England in 2014, the Delhi born had to grapple a lot against James Anderson’s bowling. Also, he could only assemble a total of 134 runs in 10 innings averaging a meagre 13.40 under MS Dhoni’s captaincy. England won the series 3-1. However, while India toured England again in 2018, the dashing batsman had finished as the top run-scorer of the five-match series with 593 runs. Virat Kohli came as a completely different player in 2018, but still, India lost 4-1.
“It’s always tough bowling against batsmen of that quality. Obviously, I had some success against him in 2014; he came back a completely different player in 2018 and it was incredible. It’ll be a tough battle in that respect, but something I do enjoy against the best players. That’s who you want to get out as a bowler,” Anderson stated.
While speaking on Test Match Special, the England pacer pointed out that Virat Kohli was a lot more restrained and qualified in 2018 than in 2014.
James Anderson Says Virat Kohli Waited For Bowlers To Come At Him In 2018
In 2018, Virat Kohli emerged as a determined player who waited patiently for the bowlers to deliver the ball rather than taking the charge himself. James Anderson picked up 25 wickets averaging 20.6 in 2014 where he was the leading wicket-taker. In 2018 too he was the highest wicket taker with 24 wickets averaging only 18.12 which is remarkable.
“I just felt like he left the ball really well. The first time he came over, when I was bowling an out-swinger, he’d try and chase it a little bit early on. So that brought the edge and slips into play. I just felt like he left a lot better [in 2018] and was a lot more patient, waited for you to come to him because he is very strong off his legs. And then once he got in, he’ll start playing a bit more expansively. I just thought his all-round game, both his mental approach and his technique was just that little bit better,” he added.
The 38-year-old is looking forward to come in face with the Indian skipper yet again if the England tour of India happens as per schedule in 2021.