On the day that this blog was born the 30/06/2010 it just so happens to be Jimmy Andersons 28th birthday and what a day in turned out to be for the young..ish man (everything is.. after all relative, and compared to this blog, Jimmy has racked up the years). However as we all know not just in sport but work, love and life, experience is a blessing and that blessing today turned itself into a five wicket haul. The Pakistani batsmen were on the wrong end of a lovely display of swing bowling, Jimmy returned with figures of 5 for 49 off 20 overs including 6 maidens. This however wasn’t really a surprise with Mohammed Asif knocking over 4 wickets quickly this morning Jimmy must have been licking his lips even after he padded up to one that straightened off his first ball, he surely must of had a small smile to himself... after all wouldn’t it be justified.
England now still have a small chance of enforcing the following on, or at very worse putting themselves in the position of having a size able lead. The latter could in fact be a blessing in disguise for several of the English batsmen, Cook and Pietersen are the two that of course spring to mind, both needing time in the middle at test level at the moment. Batting with a good lead and under less pressure could help to free up two of England's most fluent batsmen, putting them both on the right track for this series and a place on the Ashes tour, of which both these men are likely shoe-ins bar some disastrous slump in form. Lets hope that like Jimmy they were blessed in more ways than one tomorrow.
