Pitches were manipulated according to our style of play: Anderson

England’s premier fast bowler and a legend in the making, James Anderson, agreed to the fact that the pitches during the Ashes were made in a way which suited England, and adds that there is no shame in doing it more often in the future.

The wickets were made lush green on the request of England’s coach Trevor Bayliss and England’s captain Alastair Cook, news.com.au reported on Wednesday, so that their swing bowlers could make full use of the conditions available. Green wicket and overcast conditions are perfect for someone like Anderson to take full control of the match and hence England won the series 3-2.

“I think there’s certainly an element where we should have done it more in the past (and) we should do it more in the future,” Anderson said.

Anderson accused India and Australia for doing the same while playing at home.

“When we go to Australia, they prepare the pitches to suit their team. When we go to India, the same thing happens. A big deal was made of it in our conditions here (that) we were telling the groundsmen to do this and that,” the 33—year—old right-arm pacer said.

Anderson even said that there is no harm in doing this in the future.
“I’m sure they offered an opinion but it wasn’t a case that we were saying ‘you have to do this’ or ‘you have to prepare that’,” Anderson, who has 413 wickets from 107 Tests, said.

“At the same time, even if we did, everyone else in the whole world prepares pitches to give them home advantage and I don’t see why it should be any different here.”

In my opinion, there is no need for raising this issue as this is what will differentiate conditions at different places. England is always known for its swinging conditions, India for its batting friendly and spinning pitches, Australia for its bouncy and too paced wickets. If similar pitches will be present all around the world, there will be no thrill left for the visiting teams.