James Anderson has blamed the “kryptonite” lifeless Edgbaston pitch in the Ashes opener and fears he will be powerless to help England fight back against Australia if the surfaces for the rest of the series are flat and slow.
Captain Ben Stokes has called for “flat, fast wickets” for the series but seamer Stuart Broad described the Edgbaston surface as “soulless” and one of the slowest he has encountered in England.
Anderson admitted he was below his best in the opener, posting match figures of 1-109 on his return from a groin injury, but said the wicket did him no favours.
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Pat Cummins hit the winning four as he led Australia to a famous victory over England in the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston
“If all the pitches were like that I would have finished the Ashes series,” he wrote in his Daily Telegraph column. “That pitch was like kryptonite for me. No swing, no reverse swing, no seam movement, no bounce and no run.
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Check out some of the most dramatic, funniest and intense moments from the commentary box of the first Ashes Test!
“I have tried for many years to adjust my skills so that I can win in any conditions but everything I have tried has made no difference. I feel as if I am fighting an uphill battle. There was a little rust but I gave it my all.
“I know I still have a lot to offer and contribute to the team. I want to make up for it in the Lord.”
England declared on 393-8 on the first day and were in the driver’s seat for most of the match but Australia’s ever-cautious approach resulted in them claiming a two-wicket victory thanks to a 55-run ninth-wicket partnership between by captain Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon.
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Watch every single wicket from the first Ashes Test in which Australia won against England
Despite the defeat, Anderson said there are many positives to be taken from the second Lord’s Test, which starts on June 28, live on Sky Sports.
“After four days (coach) Brendon McCullum said we would have won regardless of the result because of the reaction of the people about the way we played, and the fact that we stuck to our style,” he added.
“It feels like the way we play is working. Obviously we know we want to win, we’ll be judged by the result, but as a team, it’s good that we judge ourselves by our performance.”
The men’s Ashes continue at Lord’s on Wednesday June 28 with the second of five Tests. Construction begins at Sky Sports Cricket at 10am before the first ball at 11am.
