James Anderson only player whose demeanour hasn't changed in 22 years, should be kept as treasure: Anjum Chopra

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James Anderson should be kept as a treasure, former India captain Anjum Chopra has reckoned as the 41-year-old England veteran gears up for his 187th Test and 700 wickets in the format. Anderson is just two wickets short of the massive milestone and looks all set to create history in the upcoming fifth and final Test in Dharamsala from Thursday, March 7.

Like a well-oiled engine James Anderson looks in no mood to put a break on his illustrious career which has seen him become the first fast bowler to play over 150 Test matches and complete 600 wickets. Anderson, who will become only the third bowler after spinners Muthiah Muralidaran and Shane Warne to register 700 scalps, is just 14 matches behind equalling Sachin Tendulkar's tally of most Test matches.

The longevity of a genuine fast bowler is insane, and Anjum Chopra made sure to hail the fitness of the cricketer before his final Test match in India. The cricketer-turned-commentator despite being busy with his WPL 2024 commitments as a commentator, talked at length about the Lancashire-born and pointed out that no other player in world cricket has looked exactly the same physically after spending over two decades in international cricket.

"James Anderson should be kept treasured. 21 years in international cricket and not even his action has changed, his physique hasn't changed, his style of bowling did not change and he is effective. Is there any other player in world cricket whose demeanour hasn't changed in 22 years? There is no one there - batter or bowler. Same action, same consistency, same physique everything," Anjum Chopra said in an exclusive interview with MyKhel.com.

Further, Chopra called Anderson the most impressive English pacer in the ongoing five-Test series. She also asserted that Anderson hasn't continuously made it to the England playing eleven over a younger pacer due to his stature, but on the basis of his performances and commitments.

He would not have been in the eleven if his performance had dipped. A player plays when he is fit. James Anderson would not have been playing if he wasn't fit. Ben Stokes is also not bowling. Ollie Robinson also does not play all the Test matches. Chris Woakes is playing league cricket, and Mark Wood is in the team.

"If someone was that good, he would have pipped Anderson for a place. England haven't kept anyone out of the team because of James Anderson's stature. The James Anderson-Stuart Broad duo wreaked havoc together.

"His below-par numbers in the last two years are in England. He hasn't played much outside England in the last two years. Anderson did not use to come to India earlier. He has been most impressive amongst the pacers this time.

"Call it the experience or form, you cannot take the man away. He isn't just taking two steps and bowling. Even our pacers don't bowl 17-18 overs a day, but he is doing that. That is fitness," Anjum Chopra said about Anderson - second-highest wicket-taker among pacers after Jasprit Bumrah in the series.

Anderson has bowled 94 overs in three matches to pick eight wickets at an average of 34.88. He dismissed in-form Yashasvi Jaiswal in both the innings of the second Test match. Mark Wood played as the only pacer in the England eleven for the first Test but he was largely ineffective and did not pick a single wicket. Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum fielded James Anderson in the next three Tests. Anderson has also dismissed Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill in the series.

Anjum Chopra also hails Dinesh Karthik, Rohit, Virat, Dhawan for their fitness

Anjum Chopra herself represented India for close to two decades, playing 12 Tests,127 ODIS, and 18 T20Is. He praised India stars Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Dinesh Karthik and Shikhar Dhawan for maintaining their fitness despite being on the other side of their 30s.

"In India the level of fitness is not such or maybe this much of longevity is not there. But Rohit Sharma is there, he is fit, Virat Is there, touchwood both are fit. Dinesh Karthik will also come and play in the IPL. Shikhar Dhawan is also looking in such good shape to play the tournament," she told MyKhel.com.