Veteran bowler James Anderson urged England’s batsmen to play with aggression as they try to claw their way back into the rearranged fifth Test against India at Edgbaston.
The hosts closed 84-5, 332 runs on the second day of the Test and needed 133 to avoid a follower, with Jonny Bairstow hitting on 12 alongside skipper Ben Stokes.
“The way we got out of sticky situations is by putting pressure on the opposition,” Anderson told reporters on Saturday. “I have a good feeling that tomorrow our best line of defense will be attack. Our racquets are inherently aggressive.”
“We have to try to work our way back up and put pressure on them,” he added. “We’re against it, but we were in that position before this summer.”
Anderson also came to the defense of England team-mate Stuart Broad, who conceded 35 runs in eight deliveries, Bowling Test cricket’s most expensive.
“Stuart is an experienced player and I don’t think that will affect him,” said Anderson. “I thought he was a bit unlucky because the top edges were flying all over the place.
“Another day, one of those lace edges goes right to hand. There was a chance of a fine leg. When that is taken, no one talks about the over.”