James Anderson relishing pink-ball challenge at "favourite ground outside the UK"

The England seamer, who missed the first Test at the Gabba, bowled his best figures in Australia under the lights in Adelaide in 2017, taking 5 for 43

James Anderson is relishing the challenge of a pink-ball Test after being named in England’s 12-man squad for the second Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval, a venue he has described as his "favourite ground outside the UK."

In four Test appearances at the ground, the 39-year-old has taken 16 wickets at 29.50 – his overall record in Australia is 60 wickets at 35.43 – while four years ago, it was the scene of his best-ever Test figures in Australia. In the second Test of the 2017-18 Ashes, also a day-night match, he picked up 5 for 43 in the second innings as Australia were skittled for 138.

And despite winning just one Test match in Adelaide, Anderson has fond memories of both the ground and the city.

"There’s probably more crushing defeats than good times but I think it’s my favourite ground outside the UK," he said. "I’ve always enjoyed it, whether with the one-day side or the Test side. The atmosphere is great, people love their cricket in Adelaide and the stuff they’ve done to the ground is fantastic. It’s an amazing stadium, all the guys love playing here. We are hopeful of putting in a good performance to edge that into more good games here than bad.

"I have enjoyed every game I’ve played here. We played well in 2006/07 for a few days, then had a bad day to finish. I remember a one-day [game] in 2002, one of my best in England colours. A great ground, steeped in history, and somewhere we love playing."

^{Anderson walking off after claiming a five-for in Adelaide in 2017 [Ryan Pierse/Getty Images]}

Anderson was absent from the first Test in Brisbane, a decision which has come under considerable scrutiny following England’s nine-wicket defeat inside four days. Ben Stokes (0 for 65) and Jack Leach (1 for 102), in particular, struggled with the ball at the Gabba. However, the veteran seamer saw reasons to be cheerful from England’s performance.

"I thought we did really well," Anderson said. "We beat the bat a hell of a lot, we stuck to our gameplan. It was working, but you have to give credit to the Australian top order, particularly [David] Warner and [Marnus] Labuschagne I thought left really on a wicket that bounced, which you have to do here.

"That made it tough for us. I thought we stuck to our task brilliantly. Obviously, it’s really difficult when you come in without much cricket, having to bowl those long spells, coming back spell after spell to back it up."

And looking ahead to the second Test, Anderson isn’t getting too carried away despite his strong pink-ball form in the past. In four day-night matches to date, he has taken 14 wickets at 19.28.

"I had success with it last time here," he admitted. "But it’s quite temperamental still. It’s not a given that it will swing around corners or seam, or anything like that. We know it’s generally a good pitch here and if the sun is out, it generally won’t do a great deal. At twilight or under lights it might do a bit more. It’s trying to take advantage in those periods.

"It’s about reading the situation of the game. You might not over attack to start. It’s something you have to try to assess really quickly when they are out there. If you are a new ball bowler, you have to see if it’s swinging. If not, go slightly more defensive; if it is, you can attack a bit more. [It’s the] same in that respect as any other Test – read as we go along."

Our coverage of the Ashes is brought to you in association with Cricket 22

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