The last time James Anderson won an Ashes Test was back in 2015, when England last won an Ashes series and last held the urn. At 40, and with a rough outing in Birmingham there are signs slowly showing that James Anderson is running out of time. He bowled 38 overs, took only one wicket and struggled on a flat pitch. He knows that the performance is not his best and acknowledged the fact that he could be done if the surfaces and performances stay the same throughout the series.

Although he bowled fewer overs than the other frontline bowlers, James Anderson will slowly start to feel the heat as he was found bowling once more at Lords on the first day of the second Test hardly a week later. The last time he beat Australia was at Edgbaston, eight years ago. With James Anderson hobbling off after four overs in the first Ashes Test in 2019, James Anderson could not experience the highs of the Headingly thriller, which was their one of their only two wins in the eight year period between the 2015 Ashes and now.

Unlike last time though, when James Anderson came into the home Ashes undercooked only to miss the rest of the summer four overs into the Test, James Anderson has had a better lead up. He is enjoying his time under Ben Stokes, and recently reclaimed the number one spot, briefly, which is still an exceptional feat for a bowler of his age.

In the second Test, James Anderson, feeling much fitter was evident. He was getting the ball to move a fair bit and also managed to get close to the 140 mark with the ball, showing that he has been in a good rhythm.

For all his good numbers though, James Anderson has been a question mark in the Ashes. Cricketers from both nations are normally judged based on how they do in the Ashes, and James Anderson’s record with an average of 34 against Australia is not too impressive and is infact his worst among the Test teams. Strangely though, his record in Australia is better than his record in England with respect to the Ashes.

Going deeper into his performances adds some more interesting aspects. He is the last remaining member from that epic 2005 Ashes series and was a key member of the side in the Ashes win away in 2010-2011. In 2013, with England in all sorts of disastrous situations, it was James Anderson who bowled his heart out and gave Alastair Cook something positive to look at. He was Cook’s most reliable performer in a forgettable series, and he continued to provide good spells even in 2017 and 2021.

At home though, in the last two Ashes in 2015 and 2019, James Anderson was often overshadowed by Stuart Broad due to injuries and also performances that saw Stuard Broad attain new heights. The next few weeks though gives Anderson a chance to better his record.

With decent grass on the Lords track, Anderson is looking decent and could make an impact deep in the Test. With five months in between the Oval Test and England’s next Test assignment though, this could be a really good opportunity for James Anderson to bow it, if he manages to get England over the line in the current Ashes Series.