Ashes 2023: Ricky Ponting backs James Anderson to bounce again after poor begin to sequence

By India Today Sports Desk: Ricky Ponting has backed James Anderson to shrug off his poor begin to the Ashes 2023 and ship for England.

Anderson hasn’t had the most effective of begins to an Ashes marketing campaign as he picked up only one wicket within the Edgbaston Test. The veteran pacer’s distress continued at Lord’s, the place the situations gave the impression to be in favour of him.

Anderson ended up with figures of 1/53 in 20 overs within the first innings of the Lord’s Test. The pacer was holding on to the No.1 spot within the ICC Test bowlers rankings earlier than dropping it to R Ashwin.

Ashes 2023, Lord’s Test: Report

While Anderson continues to be within the No.2 spot, if he fails to choose up extra wickets, it might drive him out of the spot.

However, Ponting is not prepared to put in writing off Anderson simply but. Speaking on the ICC Review, the previous Australian captain stated that the pacer was missing a little bit of rhythm in Edgbaston, the place the situations did not do him any favours.

“I think he said in Birmingham, in the first game, that he felt he probably wasn’t at his best. He was lacking a little bit of rhythm. The ball wasn’t coming out exactly the way that he wanted it to.

“And in pre-game this morning, I got asked who I would’ve started the innings with this morning, and I actually went away from Anderson.”

However, Ponting stated that Anderson cannot be written off and tipped him to seek out his groove as soon as once more.

“You never write off champions. That’s one thing I know about the game. James Anderson has been a champion of the game and will continue to be until he wants to pull up stumps.”

“Skill wise, it still looks like it’s all there. But I think he, within himself, feels like he’s probably not quite at his best right now,” stated Ponting.