JAMES Anderson signalled his determination to play a key role in the Ashes with a timely display for England to help them take control of their warm-up match against Warwickshire.
The 26-year-old Lancashire seamer has been on the periphery of England’s Ashes plans for the last three series, playing just three Tests in that time with successive captains failing to trust his ability for such a massive occasion.
But as England begin to finalise their preparations for next week’s opening Test in Cardiff, Anderson continued to underline his importance with a fivewicket haul against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.
Anderson claimed five for 34 to dismiss the Bears for 102 and establish a 188-run first-innings lead after the hosts had resumed the second day on 31 for one.
That allowed England an opportunity for useful batting practice and they took that chance to reach 185 for two by the close to secure a 373-run lead, with all but Kevin Pietersen, who was dismissed for six, taking advantage to spend useful time out in the middle in their only outing before the Ashes.
Anderson’s performance and eye-catching bowling displays from Andrew Flintoff and Monty Panesar ensured a satisfying day for England captain Andrew Strauss, who would also have noted how Australia took 44.3 overs to claim their first wicket against England Lions down the road at Worcester.
Anderson’s display was timely and continued his impressive form for England this summer following his nine-wicket haul in the second Test against West Indies at Durham.
That man-of-the-match display confirmed Anderson as a major threat for the bigger challenge ahead as he attempts to improve on a modest record against Australia of just five wickets at an average of 82.60.
Anderson began Warwickshire’s collapse early in the morning session, making amends for a dropped catch in the gully off Flintoff three overs earlier to tempt Jonathan Trott into edging behind.
His efforts were briefly overshadowed by a hostile six-over spell from Flintoff – which included a lifting delivery from around the wicket which Jim Troughton could only fend behind – who finished with impressive figures of two for 16.
England’s speed in dismissing Warwickshire gave them an opportunity to bat again and, after Alastair Cook scored a century in the first innings, provided an opportunity for Ravi Bopara to gain time in the middle as an opener alongside Strauss.
England’s captain was dropped at slip on 23 but recovered to score a determined 61.
Pietersen again failed to make an impression and guided seamer Boyd Rankin to second slip, but Bopara finished unbeaten on 88 while Paul Collingwood scored 21 to complete a satisfying day for England.
■ Paceman Brett Lee staked a massive claim to be part of the Australian side for the first Ashes Test with a devastating spell against England Lions at New Road.
Lions batsman Stephen Moore had threatened to dominate the second day with a century during an opening stand of 172 with Joe Denly in reply to the tourists’ first innings 358.
But Lee altered the complexion of the game with a five-wicket burst – including Moore for 120 – as he bowled with great accuracy and sustained hostility.
The 31-year-old has not played a Test since facing South Africa in December after undergoing ankle surgery and Mitchell Johnson has replaced him as Australia’s strike bowler.
Lee went into the current four-day clash at Worcester not guaranteed to start the opening Test in Cardiff next Wednesday, but showed he can still be a force to be reckoned with as Denly, Ian Bell, Vikram Solanki, Moore and Eoin Morgan were all dismissed in a deadly seven-over spell.
Scoreboard
Warwickshire v England At Edgbaston
Overnight: England 290-8 dec (A N Cook 124). Warwickshire 31-1.
Warwickshire First Innings
T Frost lbw b Flintoff ..............................14
I J Trott c Prior b Anderson ....................19
J O Troughton c Prior b Flintoff ............. 5
Javeed c Swann b Anderson ............... 4
T R Ambrose b Anderson ...................... 7
R Clarke c Flintoff b Anderson ...............12
C R Woakes c Strauss b Panesar ..........13
K H Barker b Panesar ............................ 5
N Tahir not out ....................................... 7
W B Rankin c Bopara b Panesar ........... 1
Extras (b8 lb5 pens 0) .................13
Total (45.4 overs) ...................102
Fall: 1-2 2-38 3-48 4-49 5-59 6-64 7-75 8-81 9-96
Anderson 13-2-34-5. Broad 11-4-18-0.
Flintoff 9-3-16-2. Swann 5-1-11-0. Panesar 7.4-4-10-3.
England Second Innings Close
A J Strauss c & b Woakes .....................61
R S Bopara not out ................................88
K P Pietersen c Clarke b Rankin ............ 6
P D Collingwood not out .......................21
Extras (lb9 pens 0)....................... 9
Total 2 wkts (53 overs)...........185
Fall: 1-109 2-125
To Bat: A N Cook, A Flintoff, M J Prior, S C J Broad, G P Swann, J M Anderson, M S Panesar.
Bowling :Woakes 11-4-21-1. Rankin 10-0- 30-1. Tahir 10-2-26-0. Clarke 5-0-27-0. Barker 6-1-25-0. Trott 8-0-35-0. Javeed 3-0-12- 0.
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