Sharpshooter
Midfield
Given Smith was the difference first test and Anderson’s record is abysmal vs him I doubt we would have won it. We got thrashed.
Its not so much what Anderson could have done against Smith but what he could have done against the other batsman and the tail when Australia under pressure.
The problem with England is they often had two good bowlers and the Aussies knew all they had to do was see both of them off and the pressure would ease up with mediocraty following after.
With Australia when you see off Cummins and Hazelwood, you have Starc, Pattinson or Lyon coming on and doesn't necessarily get any easier and there's no let up. The pressure is always on.
Case in point when Australia were 122-8 in the first test which at that point Broad and Woakes had taken all of the 8 wickets and were knackered, Anderson would then have seen them off. Instead they had Moeen chucking pies and Stokes bowling with a blindfold in the first innings and Australia managed to rescue themselves to 284 all out. Momentum was switched completely, England ended up losing by 251 runs.
A genuine world class third bowler would have been massive for England at times in this series. I really do believe that, Andersons presence was hugely missed in this series. He was also England's best bowler down under.
Anderson (27.82)
Overton (37.66)
Broad (47.72)
Woakes (49.50)
Ali (115.00)
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