Inzamam-ul-Haq slams James Anderson over snide Virat Kohli remarks

Former Pakistan batsman and the current chief selector of Pakistan, Inzamam-ul-Haq, has come down heavily on James Anderson for his distasteful comments against India’s captain, Virat Kohli.

While Virat Kohli has been receiving praise from all quarters for his stupendous form with the bat, England’s spearhead James Anderson had taken a dig at Kohli, saying that the India batsman has gained from the drab pitches at home, and his technical flaws will come to the fore once he tours with the team abroad.

“I'm not sure he's changed," Anderson had said. "I just think any technical deficiencies he's got aren't in play out here. The wickets just take that out of the equation.”

“We had success against him in England, but the pace of the pitches over here just take any flaws he has out of the equation. There's not that pace in the wicket to get the nicks, like we did against him in England with a bit more movement. Pitches like this suit him down to the ground.”

Speaking to Geo Sports Super Channel in Karachi, Inzamam questioned Anderson’s own form in India. Back from injury, Anderson has looked a pale shadow of his intimidating best in this series.

“It is surprising to me that Anderson should question Kohli’s runs and ability because I haven’t seen him take too many wickets in India,” Inzamam said.

“Does Anderson mean to say that if you get runs in England you get some sort of certificate that makes you a quality batsman. Don’t the English and Australian players struggle when they play in the sub-continent? Does that mean they are bad players or weak teams? To me it does not matter where you get runs because in Test matches runs are runs,” he added.

Kohli had struggled on India’s previous visit to England in 2014, consistently getting out behind the wicket against the outswinger. Experts noted that Kohli’s lack of feet movement in swinging conditions dented his reputation of being one of the best in the world. He averaged a meagre 20.12 in that series, which is a far cry from his current numbers, where he averages 128 in four matches, with one more fixture to go.

Anderson has been a thorn in Kohli’s flesh ever since the two first encountered each other on the cricket pitch in 2012. In 12 Tests, he has accounted for the 28-year old five times, the most for a bowler against Kohli. In this series, however, Anderson hasn’t managed to dismiss Kohli even once.