‘King of swing’ Anderson is meek away from home?
England’s James Anderson dismissed Kraigg Braithwaite in the final Test at Lord’s to become the 500-wicket club but how good has he been away from home?
Anderson became the third fast bowler after Glenn McGrath (563) and Courtney Walsh (519) to reach the 500 wickets mark in Test cricket.
However, the ‘king of swing’ has not had the fandom that has followed other great bowlers who achieved the landmark. A closer look at Anderson’s Test record reveals a bowler who has not been so good away from home.
Anderson has taken 335 wickets in 76 matches at home, at an average of 24.29 and strike rate of 50.3. Thus, 65 percent of his wickets have come at home in pitches where swing bowlers get all the help they need.
While Anderson has bagged 22 fifers, only four of them have come away from English turf. His strike rate drops significantly when he plays away from home, 67.3 away compared to 50. 3 at home.
Anderson’s average at home Tests is an impeccably brilliant 24.29. That average goes upto 35.36 when he plays away from home. That is a startling difference for a top quality bowler.
If you compare that to Glenn McGrath, the Aussie has an even better average away from home. McGrath has taken a fifer in away Tests 18 Times compared to 11 at home.
Against South Africa in South Africa Anderson has an absurd strike rate of 75.63 compared to an overall career strike rate of 65.9 against South Africa. His average goes up significantly when he plays in South Africa.
If one goes by his strike rates and averages at home and away conditions, a chasm appears. James Anderson is still an immensely remarkable cricketer but his away record becomes a thorn in his side when he is compared to the best in the game.
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