It was almost an Edgbaston-like sadness for one team at Headingley last evening. Only that the roles were reversed for England this time. In that epic Ashes series in 2005, Michael Kasprowicz had fended off a Steve Harmison bouncer 3 runs short of the target to be the last man out for Australia.
Yesterday, with 2 balls remaining in the day, having battled for 20 overs, James Anderson got a similar snorter from Shaminda Eranga and awkwardly tried to keep it down, only for it to take the edge of the bat and land safely in the hands of Rangana Herath on the leg side. The monk-like Moeen Ali and an equally resolute James Anderson had almost pulled off a Cardiff-like miracle, when in 2009 the last wicket pair of Anderson and Monty Panesar denied Australia for 11.3 overs to eke out an unlikely draw.
In Headlingley, England’s last pair batted for almost twice the overs, and fell just short of pulling off a similar heist.
As Sri Lankans ran wild in celebrations, very much deserving of their first Test series win in England, Anderson crouched down in the realisation of the utter disaster. He had batted 54 deliveries for a superbly compiled duck, remaining unbeaten for so long in company of Ali, but was undone on the 55th. Shattered, it took him some time to get back on his feet and acknowledge the Sri Lankans, dragging himself reluctantly off the field.
He was named England’s player of the series and called up on the stage by Michael Atherton, but could hardly speak as tears welled up in his eyes.
At Lord’s he bowled his heart out to get England so close to the doors of victory, and nearly pulled off a miraculous draw with the bat at Headingley. It’s hard not to feel for James Anderson.
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