Ashes 2023: I don’t see in his body language that he’s running on empty – Nasser Hussain feels James Anderson is not finished yet

Former England skipper Nasser Hussain reckons veteran pacer James Anderson still has some fuel left in his old tank. Anderson, 40, hasn’t been at his absolute best in the ongoing Ashes against Australia as he has scalped only four wickets in three Test matches at a poor average of 76.75.

However, Hussain feels Anderson is not running on empty while noticing his body language. The veteran pacer was dropped from the third Test match but he was added to the fourth Test match’s playing XI after Ollie Robinson suffered an injury.

Anderson doesn’t have a great record while playing at Kennington Oval, where the fifth Test match is set to be played, as he has scalped 49 wickets in 15 Test matches at an average of 32.12 while playing at the venue.

“If I was picking England’s best XI to face Australia, he would still be in it. Yes, Anderson’s wickets cost 32 runs apiece there, considerably more expensive than his career mark of 26 – but four months ago he was the No 1-ranked bowler in the world and although it might be the oldest cliche, class is permanent,” Hussain wrote in his column for Daily Mail.

Hussain went on to highlight that Anderson is still going strong despite not getting the rewards he would like in the ongoing Ashes.

“Only the individual knows when the time is right to retire, whether they are physically and mentally done. There are only so many times you can go to the well, only so many times you get out of bed, strap those bowling boots on and go again. That point will come for Anderson, but I don’t see in his body language that he’s running on empty,” Hussain stressed in his column.

The renowned commentator feels Anderson deserves a bit more time to once again find his A-game at the top level.

“He’s just performing a bit below par. When a great is a bit below par, it would be very unfair – wrong, in fact – to leave him out. Great cricketers just deserve that little bit more, in keeping with their mighty efforts,” Hussain added.

Hussain observed that he doesn’t notice any considerable drop in Anderson’s pace but he hasn’t got the ball to swing the way he has done in his career. However, Hussain wants the England selectors to be guile in their decision-making.

“I don’t see a massive drop-off in his pace, he just hasn’t done as much with the ball this year as in previous years and I cannot put my finger on why. Maybe it’s not a summer of swing. My gut feeling looking at him is that he is not a cricketer who is done, but the England selectors should pick what they believe is their best team and avoid any thoughts of heading down the romantic route.”

The fifth and final Test match will be played at Kennington Oval, London from July 27.