Anderson shines in warm-up

Runs for Bopara, wickets for Anderson, but KP fails again

Last updated: 2nd July 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Anderson shines in warm-up

Anderson: Five-for in Ashes warm-up

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Edgbaston
England 290-8 dec (A N Cook 124) & 185-2 (R S Bopara 88 no, A J Strauss 61) v Warwickshire 102 (J M Anderson 5-34)

James Anderson and Ravi Bopara starred for England on the second day of their Ashes warm-up against Warwickshire at Edgbaston, but Kevin Pietersen again failed to fire.

Anderson took 5-34 to rip through the Warwickshire batting as they were bowled out for 102 and the Lancashire man signalled he is ready to lead the attack in the Ashes.

With a lead of 118 runs, England had the chance to get more batting practice, and with Alastair Cook not used after his first innings century, Bopara opened with Andrew Strauss and made the most of his chance with an unbeaten 88.

Strauss made a welcome 61 as England closed on 185-2, but Pietersen failed again and made six this time after being dismissed for just one in the first innings.

On an otherwise highly satisfactory day for England, Andrew Flintoff bagged two wickets and bowled well, while Monty Panesar showed he is still in contention for the Ashes as he took three welcome wickets.

Lead role

Anderson has never played a lead role in the Ashes, with just three Test appearances in the last three series, but he will be at the forefront this time around.

The 26-year-old showed just why as he took Warwickshire's batting line-up apart, sparking a collapse early in the morning session when he tempted Jonathan Trott into edging behind.

Flintoff then stepped up with a typically hostile spell that yielded two wickets for 16 runs, with his second being a lifting delivery which Jim Troughton could only fend behind.

Anderson then stormed on by removing Tim Ambrose's off-stump before also getting rid of 17-year-old Ateeq Javid and Rikki Clarke in a three-over spell to complete his five-wicket haul and confirm his sharpness for the Ashes.

To add further gloss to England's performance, Panesar weighed in with three wickets and out-bowled fellow spinner Graeme Swann, claiming 3-10, to put his name forward for the first Test at spin-friendly Cardiff.

Batting

With more batting practice for England, Strauss capitalised on being dropped on 23 to go on and make a half-century before being caught and bowled by Chris Woakes.

Pietersen then had the chance to make amends for his first innings, but could only make six more runs before he guided seamer Boyd Rankin to second slip for another disappointing spell in the middle.

Paul Collingwood made 21 not out but Bopara made the batting headlines as he finished unbeaten on 88.