Anderson Praises South Africa’s Strategic Move to Appoint Stuart Broad as Consultant

LONDON: Ahead of the highly anticipated ICC World Test Championship Final between South Africa and Australia at Lord’s, England legend James Anderson offered his expert analysis on Tuesday.

Acknowledging the potent pace attacks of both squads, Anderson anticipates that fast bowlers will significantly influence the outcome of the Ultimate Test, commencing on June 11.

During a private gathering in London on Monday, Anderson highlighted the necessity for seam bowlers to prioritize bowling the right length at Lord’s. He cautioned against the common error of pitching the ball too short.

Optimal Bowling Length

“Lord’s is definitely a venue where you need to pitch the ball up,” Anderson advised.

“While many suggest aiming for the top of off stump, I believe a slightly fuller length, around three-quarters up the stump, is more effective. That’s my recommendation for the seamers.”

Anderson believes that the crucial battle between a top-tier fast bowler and an accomplished Test batter could determine the match’s trajectory.

Key Player Matchup

“For me, the key contest will be between Kagiso Rabada and Steve Smith. I think that could be a really good, interesting battle,” he stated.

“Steve Smith is among the world’s best batsmen, and Kagiso Rabada is a captivating bowler to watch. His diverse attributes make him a must-see player. I’m really looking forward to that particular matchup.”

Anderson also endorsed South Africa’s decision to bring in his former England teammate, Stuart Broad, as a consultant for the WTC final.

“South Africa’s move is a smart one. Broad has achieved considerable success in English conditions and possesses specific knowledge of Lord’s.

“His familiarity with the ground and prior successes here equip him to offer valuable insights and guidance to the South African team, which will be advantageous from their perspective,” he concluded.

The ICC World Test Championship final is scheduled for June 11 at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, featuring South Africa and defending champions Australia.

South Africa currently tops the WTC 2023-25 standings, with eight victories in 12 Tests.

Following a 1-1 draw in a home series against India and a 2-0 defeat in New Zealand, they bounced back with series wins against the West Indies (1-0), Bangladesh (2-0), Sri Lanka (2-0), and Pakistan (2-0).

Australia holds the second position with 13 wins and four losses in 19 Tests.

Their campaign highlights include a 2-0 win against Sri Lanka, a 3-1 victory over India, a 2-0 series win against New Zealand, and a 1-1 draw with the West Indies.

They also secured a 3-0 whitewash against Pakistan, while the Ashes series against England concluded in a 2-2 draw.

Squads:

Australia: Pat Cummins (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.

South Africa: Temba Bavuma (captain), Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Corbin Bosch, Kyle Verreynne, David Bedingham, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson.