“You will need that experience of someone like Jimmy Anderson”, Nasser Hussain wants England to continue with Anderson to play the Test Series in India despite poor Ashes.

Former England captain Nasser Hussain has expressed his support for star fast bowler James Anderson to continue being a part of the national squad despite his struggles in the recently concluded Ashes series at home. The 41-year-old endured a challenging series, managing only five wickets at an unexpectedly high average of 85.40.

Despite Anderson’s disappointing performance, England managed to draw the five-match series 2-2 after initially being down 0-2. Looking ahead, England is set to face India in a five-Test series in January 2024, with their previous encounter in England ending in a 2-2 tie.

Speaking on the ICC Review, Hussain advocated for England to stick with Anderson, especially considering Stuart Broad’s retirement and Chris Woakes’ less impressive away record. The former captain also highlighted Anderson’s exceptional track record against India and his vast experience in subcontinental conditions.

Naseer Hussain said “I think especially with Broad going, I would like that experience (in India). Chris Woakes has stated that he’s not that keen anymore of playing away from home and his record’s not great away from home. We’ll see, he (Woakes) might change his mind. There’s been a lot of mind changes recently. But if you don’t have Woakes and you don’t have Broad, you will need that experience of someone like Jimmy Anderson.”

Throughout his Test career, Anderson has enjoyed immense success against Team India, claiming 139 wickets at an impressive average of 24.89, including six 5-wicket hauls. Moreover, Anderson has also demonstrated his prowess in India, securing 34 wickets in 13 matches at an average of less than 30.

Addressing this he added “Jimmy’s got a very good record against India…and you need a balanced attack. You need that experience for younger players to come in. Listen, Jimmy’s had a bad or an average couple of months, but you are a fool if you’re writing off Jimmy Anderson.”