‘I really like Pat Cummins’ action’ – James Anderson reveals how bowling like Australian Test captain has helped him

James Anderson and Pat Cummins. (Source – Getty Images)

Veteran England seamer James Anderson recently came forward to reveal that he is a big fan of Australia pacer Pat Cummins’ action. He also described an incident when copying Cummins’ action helped Anderson even get a wicket, helping him get out of a slump in his form. 

There is no argument that Cummins has established himself as one of the most consistent pacers in world cricket. Cummins also held the No. 1 Test rankings for more than two years and has even succeeded as the red-ball skipper of the Aussies. 

In a recent interview, James Anderson came forward to reveal how he was advised by compatriot Mark Wood to bowl more like Pat Cummins to take wickets. He recalled the moment from the Galle Test in Sri Lanka after Anderson was feeling very stiff.

“I really like Pat Cummins’ action. There was a Test match in Galle in Sri Lanka where I was feeling really stiff after lunch. Mark Wood was at mid-off and I said: ‘I’m going to copy Pat Cummins’ action now and try to bowl like him.’ I got a wicket in that over and Woody said: ‘You should bowl like him all the time,” James Anderson said on the Tailenders podcast.

He’s got an amazing snap: Anderson

Furthermore, James Anderson heaped even more praise on Pat Cummins, stating that the snap in his bowling makes him an even more dangerous bowler to deal with. 

“He’s got an amazing snap. When he gets to the top of his action, everything seems to go really quick. When he bowls the ball, he just snaps through the crease. Because I was feeling stiff and a bit sluggish, I was trying to recreate that speed and it worked,” Anderson said.

It is worth noting that Anderson will be playing his 188th and final Test during the Lord’s Test against the West Indies which is set to begin from July 10. With over 700 wickets under his name, the veteran needs just nine more to become the second-highest wicket-taker of all time in Test cricket.