Written off one minute as a creaking 39-year-old, cheered to the rafters the next for his 31st Test five-wicket haul – it has been just another week in the extraordinary career of Jimmy Anderson.
On Tuesday, 48 hours before the start of this match, England feared one of the best-oiled machines in the game had suffered a spanner in the works. His thigh felt stiff, and he limited his practice to fielding.
On Wednesday, the word from the England camp was that Anderson was entering the dreaded ‘red zone’ – the moment the physio thinks about withdrawing a player from the firing line to pre-empt injury.
James Anderson celebrates after dismissing Mohamed Siraj to claim his fifth wicket
But Anderson has not taken more wickets – 626 now – than any fast bowler in Test history without nurturing one of his greatest strengths: his stubbornness.
Asked in private how the injury was, he sounded aghast at the thought; a scan that afternoon revealed nothing untoward. And so, with the news cycle already declaring his absence from the second Test, and India’s training session done and dusted, Anderson slipped back in to Lord’s for a quick bowl.
‘We kept it under the radar, as we didn’t want to give too much away,’ said a dressing-room source. Understandably so, because if England’s batting has become unhealthily reliant on Joe Root, the same might be said of their bowling and Anderson.
After one last gallop on the morning of the match, Anderson had proved his point. Or, at least, he had proved one point. Another remained: could he, a year shy of turning 40, carry the England attack in the absence of Stuart Broad – to say nothing of Jofra Archer, Chris Woakes and Ben Stokes?
Anderson celebrates with Ollie Robinson after dismissing Ajinkya Rahane at Lord’s
On the first day, he had been well supported by Ollie Robinson, who began the second by having the overnight centurion KL Rahul caught in the covers. Anderson then struck with his first ball, as Ajinkya Rahane prodded low to first slip; later, he returned to dock India’s tail as the last eight fell for 97.
By the end, with Robinson fading a little, it was looking like another one-man show: Anderson five for 62, the rest five for 289. As for the stiff thigh, he had sent down 29 overs, his most in a home Test innings for five years.
None of which guarantees that Ol’ Man River will keep on flowing right through this five-match series. And if he is obliged to take a breather – which would most likely come in the fourth game at The Oval, his least productive English ground – the selectors will face some tough decisions.
One problem could be solved if Woakes returns for the Oval Test, after an injury sustained while slipping on the stairs at home. With Moeen Ali back in the fold at No 7, Woakes at No 8 would mean no place for Sam Curran – although Woakes, who has not played Test cricket for a year must first prove his fitness with Warwickshire’s Second XI.
Sam Curran (pictured) could be the one who misses out if Chris Woakes returns at the Oval
But Curran’s two worst Test analyses have come in this series, and he looks increasingly like a luxury pick. The claim that he ‘makes things happen’ has gone from cliché to wishful thinking.
Robinson deserves a rest at some point, too, though he has a like-for-like replacement in Somerset’s Craig Overton, even if he has not appeared in a Test match since 2019.
It is trickier to be certain about the short-term fate of Mark Wood. With Archer and Olly Stone out of this winter’s Ashes, he is the last remaining prong of a pace-bowling trident that was supposed to hit Australia hard on their bouncy pitches.
Lancashire’s Saqib Mahmood was called up by England to provide cover for Anderson
Not only will his notoriously fragile body need managing in the meantime, but his figures yesterday of two for 91 confirmed his unusual status as an English bowler who does better overseas. Wood averages nearly 43 in home Tests, and less than 24 away; his two five-fors have come in St Lucia and Johannesburg.
Both factors strengthen the case for England to take a look at Lancashire’s Saqib Mahmood, who was called up for this game as cover for Anderson. Skiddy, fast, and with the ability to find reverse-swing, he is in the running for Australia – but surely has to make his Test debut first.
Anderson made his own debut 18 summers ago, and immediately took the first of those 31 five-fors, against Zimbabwe at Lord’s. On Friday, he etched himself on to the honours board for the seventh time. Ridiculously, magnificently, he isn’t done yet. And he won’t have anyone telling him so.