James Anderson cannot wait for the ashes to start after claiming a five-wicket haul in England’s final practice match against Warwickshire. The Lancashire seamer took five for 34 as the home side were dismissed for 102 on the second day of their three-day warm-up game at Edgbaston and england will resume today 373 runs ahead on 185 for two.
Anderson’s display will have delighted captain Andrew Strauss as he draws up his plans for next week’s opening Test at Cardiff as the excitement among the players grows. ‘I think we just want to get started really,’ admitted Anderson. ‘The hype has been going on for so long now and we just want to get started.’
Playing in Cardiff will be a particularly special moment for Anderson, 26, who has played just three Ashes Tests. But after becoming England’s main strike bowler over the past 18 months there is a sense his moment has come. ‘I hope it is my time,’ he admitted. ‘I’m concentrating on my job, which is to swing the ball and take early wickets. I’m not thinking about how many Ashes matches I have played.’ Anderson shared top billing with Andrew Flintoff, who claimed two for 16, while Monty Panesar grabbed three wickets to put himself back in contention for the first Test.
Flintoff’s presence, particularly after his man-of-the-series performances from 2005, will be particularly welcome. ‘He brings something different,’ added Anderson. ‘We were guessing in the field he must have been pushing 90mph, so it’s fantastic to get him back and bowling aggressively.’ The only bad news for Strauss was Kevin Pietersen’s dismissal for six during england’s second innings, his second failure of the game with the bat after his first-innings score of one.
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