After engaging and losing verbal battles with Indian players in the second Test at Lord’s, James Anderson looked determined to answer India’s sledging with the ball in hand. He was at his very best right from the start of the third Test at Headingley and deceived the in-form batsman KL Rahul with the one that nipped away, even before he could get off the mark.
He followed it up with another big wicket of Cheteshwar Pujara, who too got sucked into playing at one he should have left. He was lured by incoming deliveries one after another before the champion pacer swung one away from him while bowling from wide of the crease.
He then got the big fish, Indian skipper Virat Kohli, forcing him to drive at a fuller ball, just moving away, a bit too late from him. With three wickets, he was bursting with energy and bowled brilliantly in his eight-over spell in the morning session.
India fielded an unchanged playing XI from the one that played and triumphed at Lord’s while England made two changes in Dawid Malan, who replaced struggling Dom Sibley, and Craig Overton, who replaced an injured Mark Wood.
Virat Kohli finally won his first toss after losing eight consecutive tosses and decided to bat first. England skipper Joe Root did not mind the opportunity to bowl first on a fresh Headingley pitch and Anderson vindicated his stance with two early wickets.
India are 1-0 up in the five-match long series after a spirited win at the Home of Cricket.