We’ve hated the place for nine years: Anderson

HEADINGLEY: England’s James Anderson credited a change of ends for improving his modest record at Headingley. He came into this match averaging 41.36 from seven Tests at the ground. He had never taken more than three wickets in an innings.

But, after a conversation with Stuart Broad, the pair decided to change the ends from which they normally bowl and soon reaped the rewards. With Anderson bowling from the Football Stand End, the pair took 9 for 37 between them as Sri Lanka were bowled out for just 91. Anderson claimed the 19th five-wicket haul of his career and went past Kapil Dev into sixth-place in the all-time leading Test wicket takers.

“We’ve hated the place for nine years,” Anderson said, “so we thought we might as well change ends. We’ve had very little success here. Our records are pretty poor. Why not give it a go?”