‘He showed his class’ – Sanjay Manjrekar lauds James Anderson following brilliant spell against India

James Anderson vs Sa. (Photo Source: Visionhaus/Corbis via Getty Images)

The second Test of the ongoing series between India and England got off to an enthralling start for both sides. After losing the first Test, team India looked to put in an improved performance in the Vizag clash, and the side put forth a performance to match that stature.

However, as Day 1 of the clash ended, many came forward to laud the performance of veteran pacer James Anderson. The 41-year-old had an impressive outing on Day 1 of the second Test, finishing the day with an economy of 1.76. His performance also impressed former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar, who came forward to laud the veteran for his longevity and ability to perform even on flat batting tracks.

“He is a reminder of the legacy of great fast bowlers we had over the years. He is right at the end of his career, yet, on a pitch that had nothing for him, he had the Indian batters beaten outside off stump. Eventually getting a batter (Gill) caught by the keeper. That is a very rare thing to happen on Indian pitches,” Manjrekar told ESPNcricinfo. “He showed his class and the economy tells you how accurate he is as a bowler. And I love the way England uses him. We think he is not bowling enough these days but he is not playing enough.”

It’s a bit of a blast from the past when Test cricket was at its highest: Sanjay Manjrekar

Furthermore, Manjrekar also opined that whenever Anderson takes the field, it always feels like a blast from the past, when the longest format was in its prime. 

“Every time you see Anderson bowl, it’s a bit of a blast from the past when Test cricket was at its highest. There was quality all over the World with the West Indies in the 1980s and then under Mark Taylor the Australians, along with Pakistan and India who had their moments,” he said.