James Anderson picked up a five-wicket haul—his 31st in the first innings of the second Test against India at Lord’s. He turned out to be England’s go-to man once again and picked up big wickets at crucial junctures to stop India from running away with the game.
The fifer was his seventh at Lord’s and he stands behind only Sir Ian Botham, who has taken eight five-wicket hauls at the Home of Cricket.
He got the outside edge of Jasprit Bumrah to reach the landmark. His other four victims were Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma and Ishant Sharma.
He opened up his account in the afternoon session when he removed Rohit with a jaffa that came back sharply towards the right-hander and hit his stumps. He followed that wicket with another big one of Pujara, who was guilty of poking an away going delivery and edged to Jonny Bairstow at the third slip.
There was uncertainty around his fitness and it was rumoured that he might not play the Lord’s Test and it could have been a setback for the hosts. However, he did not only turn up by proving his fitness but also bowled elongated spells to contain India below 400 runs.
India have been bowled out for 364 in the afternoon session on the second day. He was followed by Mark Wood and Ollie Robinson, who took two wickets each.