Anderson hails Broad partnership

20 May 2016 | Cricket
England bowler James Anderson paid tribute to his partnership with Stuart Broad after they bowled Sri Lanka out for 91 to leave the tourists reeling at Headingley.

Anderson took 5-16 and Broad 4-21 as Sri Lanka were forced to follow-on on a remarkable day which saw 15 wickets fall and Jonny Bairstow hit a brilliant 140 as England took control.

"I’ve not enjoyed coming to Leeds in the past!" admitted Anderson after taking his first 5-for at the ground.

"Me and Stuart made a conscious decision to change ends when we bowled and it’s worked pretty well. We always talking about batsmen buidling partnerships but it's the same for us bowlers and Stuart and I bowled really well together today.

"Stokes and Finn backed us up really well when they came on and we're in a great position in the game now. Hopefully we won't have to score too many - if we have to bat again in the game.

"We saw when Sri Lanka bowled that there was movement off the seam and swing through the air, and it’s difficult to score when you bowl in the right areas; we aimed for the top of the stumps, top of the knee-roll, and the swing got more prodigious as the game went on."

Bairstow, meanwhile, could not hide his delight after scoring his first home Test ton on his home turf.

"Yeah, it’s been absolutely amazing," said the Yorkshire wicket-keeper. "You really want to do well on days like today when everyone comes and watches you.

"I’m happy batting at 7, it fits the side well, it’s one of the real strengths of the side that we bat all the way down and have someone as good as Moeen Ali at 8, and it’s going well at the moment.

"[On Anderson's spell] It’s not easy to come in and bat when the ball is swinging like that and both ways - and it’s not easy to keep to because it’s swinging so much, too!

"You do see it for a bit longer when you're wicket-keeping, but batting is very difficult."

Sri Lanka return to Cardiff for the fifth and final Royal London One-Day International against England on July 2nd. Tickets are available here