BLACKCAPS opener Jamie How acknowledged James Anderson’s performance as the England pace bowler dominated the second day of the third Test at Trent Bridge.
How was top scorer with 40 as the BLACKCAPS reply to England’s first innings of 364 was limited to 96 for six when bad light stopped play.
Anderson led the charge with a career-best Test return of six for 42 in conditions conducive to his style of swing bowling.
The Lancashire and former State Auckland Aces quick had already posted a personal best with 28, his highest Test batting score, in a ground record eighth wicket stand of 76 with Stuart Broad (64).
How said: “I think he was putting us under pressure, he bowled well.
“He swung the ball nicely both ways. He bowled good lines and put us under a good amount of pressure. He’s a good bowler when he gets his tail up, so it’s up to us to find a way to combat him a bit better.”
The batsman also praised the tail-end contribution with the bat. Anderson and Broad, with his best first-class score, lifted their team’s score from 273 for seven overnight.
“I think we bowled well and stuck to our plans,” he said.
“The tail-enders batted well. Things didn’t go our way this morning. It’s always nice to get those wickets early, but they played well and I thought we bowled pretty well.”
Anderson himself was delighted by his contribution, which he felt was a career highlight.
“It’s the best day I’ve had. I can’t remember anything that comes close, really,” he said
“It was ideal. I’m at my best when the ball’s swinging. We chatted before and we said that a fuller length would get the wickets when the ball’s swinging.”
On his earlier high score, he added: “I’ve worked hard on my batting. Me and Broady chatted last night and said we could get near 300, maybe 320, if we took it slowly in 10 run partnerships. But we got it to 360.”
Despite the 25-year-old’s starring role, How said the BLACKCAPS were still confident of turning the game back in their favour.
“A few guys are disappointed with their dismissals, but the changing room’s still pretty positive and we’re still looking forward to tomorrow,” he added:
“It’s a competitive series and the sides are sometimes closer than the scores suggest. It’s hard work and the guys are looking forward to tomorrow to turn it our way.”
