James Anderson for The Daily Mail
But, to be honest, it’s rarely like that.
James Anderson for The Daily Mail
Life as a professional sportsman is all about winning, so to lose in that manner, hurts a great deal.
James Anderson for The Daily Mail
We have a fantastic team spirit in this England squad and are as close as most family units, but I challenge anyone to spend months in the same hotels as the likes of Graeme Swann and not get at least a little irritated!
We’ve got straight back into that family mentality after just a few days back on tour.
JAMES ANDERSON FOR BLOKELY.COM
James Anderson picks out three ups from England’s ill-fated Indian adventure. Oh, and he pulled the plug at three minuses n’all…
A WIN IS A WIN!
Beating India in the one T20I of the tour at Kolkata was our first win over there since 2006. Although it hardly makes up for losing all five of the 50-over games, at least it did mean that we retain our status as the top ranked 20-over side in the world.
JAMES ANDERSON FOR BLOKELY.COM
JAMES ANDERSON FOR BLOKELY.COM
This, the fourth one-dayer of the series. was undoubtedly the toughest for England. It perfectly illustrated the impact that the ebb and flow of confidence plays in the outcome of cricket matches.
JAMES ANDERSON FOR BLOKELY.COM
Jonathan Trott’s knock of 98 not out, England’s highest of the series, was always likely to prove a significant contribution. But as England closed their innings at the half-way stage of the game, only four wickets down, it was difficult to judge for which side.
JAMES ANDERSON FOR BLOKELY.COM
An unbeaten third wicket partnership of 209 between Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli put the tin lid on Alastair Cook’s men today after all five of England’s middle-order made it to 30, but no one bettered KP’s 46.
JAMES ANDERSON FOR BLOKELY.COM
You’d have to concede that MS Dhoni’s helicopter shot-filled 87 not out scored at the end of India’s innings was the telling contribution in the first one-dayer at Hyderabad. He was rightly named man of the match.
James Anderson writes for the Mail On Sunday:13th August 2011
Team player: Jimmy Anderson gives the verdict on his team-mates
They have been together for two years under captain Andrew Strauss and coach Andy Flower. After routing Australia 3-1 last winter in the Ashes, now they have crushed India. Leader of the attack Jimmy Anderson gives his unique insight into the first England team to be officially ranked world No1.
ANDY FLOWER
Got our analysts to set out a two-to-three-year road map of fixtures, tours and series to become world No 1 and showed us where we’d be if we won each one by a certain score. It underlined how tough it would be to get the required results, especially in Australia and South Africa, but if you have a goal you need to know how to achieve it. Always challenging us in practice, which keeps minds fresh and maintains a desire to improve.
ANDREW STRAUSS
Gets it in the neck (from Swann, mainly) for his posh public school upbringing, but his sense of humour means he is as much one of the lads as anyone. When he needs to be captain, he has the total respect of the players. He’d never ask you to do anything he wouldn’t do himself and he’s strong on players taking responsibility for their own preparation and performance.
ALASTAIR COOK
After struggling slightly in the first two Tests against India he went straight to the nets with Graham Gooch, his long-term mentor at Essex. He’s just batted for 13 hours and 23 minutes at Edgbaston and scored 294 runs, using the same pair of gloves for the innings and during two warmup sessions before each day. They were dry as a bone when he got out. Freakish that he never sweats.
JONATHAN TROTT
Likes to bat in his own time, in his own style and wants to get big runs every time. Some have said his batting is not exactly a thing of beauty, but it is a joy to watch for us bowlers. To win Test matches you need 20 wickets and you’ve got a much better chance if you can have a day off with your feet up now and then.
KEVIN PIETERSEN
Had to re-adjust after losing the captaincy and had a rough yearby his own admission. Continues to put in all the work and is now batting brilliantly again, which shows his hunger is still there. He and Trott get ribbed about their South African background but on the field everyone pulls in the same direction.
IAN BELL
We are all pleased for him with the form he’s been in and the runs he’s made. He’s done brilliantly at six and now great at No 3 in Trott’s absence. Took a look at himself a year or so ago and added steel to his skill, but when he’s in form he is the guy we all want to watch. Pleasing on the eye and has a body of work to go with his style.
EOIN MORGAN
Had a great start to his one-day career with his unique range of extraordinary shots, but there was plenty of debate over whether he or Ravi Bopara should come in once Paul Collingwood packed up. With an icy calm temperament and huge selfbelief, he is settling well and seems to get better each time he plays. Sometimes so cool you want to check his pulse. Scary.
MATT PRIOR
His batting has become solid and dependable, but he is also the lynchpin of the side in the field. Keeps the energy up, gets people going and applies the odd kick up the backside. Also passes on vital advice to the bowlers. Often, when I’m bowling against left-handers, I’ve been unsure whether I should come around the wicket, he has said: ‘No, stay over, lbw is still in play.’ And it has worked.
TIM BRESNAN
Summed up brilliantly by a Michael Vaughan tweet saying you wouldn’t have him in your pub quiz team, but he’s a helluva bowler. He’s shown he is real world class; very skilful with the ball, possessing a brutish bouncer that’s heavier than you expect. An extremely capable batsman.
STUART BROAD
Like Cook he has responded brilliantly to external pressure over his place in the side. But we all knew he was bowling better than his figures suggested, just not having the rub of the green. Has the skill to counter-attack with the bat, as he did when he swung the game our way in Nottingham. The Aussies don’t call him Kylie any more.
GRAEME SWANN
If you insist. Our outstanding performer over the past couple of years, picking up wickets, chipping in with runs and winding us all up with his shocking humour. Rarely gets down, except when he has an LBW not given, but the sprinkler dance in his Ashes video diary said it all. Indispensable on and off the field. Now, Graeme, take your boot off my throat.
JAMES ANDERSON
I’ve enjoyed leading the attack and being part of this amazing group. A key moment came last summer against Pakistan when I worked on a new ‘wobbly seam’ ball with bowling coach David Saker. It can nip either way and proved crucial in Australia so I’m using it even more now.
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