Anderson still swinging it like a Sultan

In the iconic Dire Straits song Sultans of Swing, there’s this verse towards the fag end.

“And then the man

He steps right up to the microphone

And says at last

Just as the time bell rings

‘Goodnight, Now it’s time to go home’

Then he makes it fast with one more thing

We are the Sultans, We are the Sultans of Swing.”

That verse, with some minor changes, can be used to describe James Anderson’s, dubbed the Burnley Sultan of Swing, magical show on Tuesday morning which had the stumps of Shubman Gill and Ajinkya Rahane dancing to his tunes.

“And then the man (Anderson)

He steps right up to the bowling marker

And says at last

Just as the umpire signals

‘Goodbye, Now it’s time to go home’

Then he makes it fast with one more thing

‘I am the Sultan, the Sultan of Swing.’"

Those two balls is what Anderson has been doing for a lifetime with relentless accuracy. Possessing a great ability to swing the ball in any conditions, the 38-year-old, going strong as ever, still continues to torment batsmen with his mastery. While some have solutions to his nagging questions, many just succumb to his brilliance.

“In the context of this game it was huge. Big game players stand up and do special things. It's a great example for the young guys around to see that and want to be a part of that,” said England skipper Joe Root, lavishing massive praise on Anderson. “When reverse swing came into it, the skill level and accuracy of Jimmy was always going to be very potent. It worked out nicely for us. And to deliver a spell of bowling like that really did change the whole dynamic of the game.”

Among the many things that stand out about Anderson is his longevity and the insatiable quest to remain as England’s numero uno pacer. Yes, he doesn’t play all matches, trying to conserve his battled-ravaged body for some more battles. But when he does, he is always in his elements, no-one dare question his place in the side. Since the start of 2014, Anderson has been on top of his game. Barring 2019 (30.16), his average every year has never dipped below 23.73, which is much lower than his career average of 26.49.

Anderson, perceived by some as only good in English conditions which aids his style of bowling, has been excellent in sub-continental conditions too. While he banks on conventional swing back home, he brings out the reverse into play on Asian pitches, as seen in the second innings.

“He is like a fine wine - getting better and better. For someone at 38 to be still getting better, still being as fit as he has ever been, it's a huge credit to his desire to play for England. He's a great role model to the rest of the group. He's the GOAT of English cricket,” said Root.

Considering England’s rotation policy and the punishing conditions here, it’s highly unlikely that Anderson will play all four Test matches. Given the short turnaround time, he may even be rested for the second Test which starts in Chennai on February 13. But if he plays, expect him to cause more havoc.