By Adam Ellis
England vice-captain JImmy Anderson has played down the need for sudden changes to the Test side following Australia’s dominant 4-0 Ashes win.
As Joe Root retired ill and was taken to hospital, England added just 87 runs as they sought to bat out the final day of play at the SCG. But when Pat Cummins (4-39) dismissed Jonny Bairstow, the tourists’ house of cards soon came crashing down as Australia reclaimed the urn with an innings and 123 runs victory.
Even before the fifth and final Test had concluded, England assistant coach Paul Farbrace admitted preparations for the 2019 and 2021 tours would be getting underway ‘in the next couple of days’. Anderson took a different approach and said in the short-term England should resist from overhauling the current side.
“It doesn’t feel like a series where there should be a big upheaval,” 35-year-old Anderson said.
“It doesn’t feel like a completely disastrous series.
“But we’re hurting and we know we’ve got to improve.”
“We’ve just not capitalised on the key moments, making big scores, taking a couple more wickets that would get us on top.
“They’ve played the pressurised moments better than us, and when they’ve put the pressure on us we haven’t reacted very well.”
England’s bowling attack tallied 58 wickets compared to their opponent’s 90 during the series, yet Anderson pointed towards shortcomings with the bat as Trevor Bayliss watched a twelfth defeat in 19 overseas Tests during his tenure.
“Getting to 60 and 70 with the bat is not good enough,” Anderson added.
“You’ve got to get big hundreds, as they have done.
“It’s all very well bowling well 15-20 overs, but the 25-30 overs can be key overs for a bowler – the periods when you have to stay at your best – and we haven’t done that.”
