McCullum told that even if India gets above 600, they will try to chase it, Anderson said

James Anderson revealed that England head coach Brendon McCullum has instructed them to try and chase down whatever target India gives them.

New Delhi: The Rohit Sharma-led Indian cricket team has set a target of 399 runs for Ben Stokes' England team in the second Test of the five-match series at the Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium. However, England coach Brendon McCullum is keen to chase down the historic goal. According to England seamer James Anderson, the England coach told them that even if the Indian team managed to put 600 runs on the board, they would try to chase it.

England finished play on day three at 67/1 in 14 overs, chasing 399. Although they lost Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley remains not out on 29, alongside promoted Rehan Ahmed, who is unbeaten on nine, with England still needs 332 runs. for an astonishing victory in what remains the toughest challenge of the Bazball era to date.

England's successful fourth-innings run chase in India took place in 1972, when they chased 207 runs for a win. To date, their most successful run chase against India ever came in July 2022, when they chased down a record 378 at Edgbaston, under the Stokes-McCullum regime.

“Absolutely. We are feeling good in the game. We sat down with the coach last night and he said if India gets 600 ahead, we will try to chase it, that's exactly what we are going to do. I thought we felt good today have kept to our task.”

“They went into a partnership at one point but I thought the way the spinners carried on and kept toiling was brilliant. We are in a great position and we will give it a good try tomorrow,” Anderson told TNT Sports at the end of the third matchday.

In the morning, Anderson bowled a masterful spell of 2-29 in 10 overs as India's second innings folded at 255 in 78.3 overs. In Anderson's first over of the morning, he sent Rohit Sharma's off-stump on a cartwheel with a delivery that deflected just a little. He then got one to pinch away and take the outside edge of Yashasvi Jaiswal on the approach to first slip. “For me you know here that as a seaman you have a limited opportunity to bowl. It will be a heavy burden on the spinners, so I'm just concentrating on being in the right spot every ball and trying to bowl my best ball every ball.”

“Sometimes it comes out and sometimes it doesn't. Luckily today I managed to get a few early which put us in a good position and allowed the spinners to do their thing from the other end,” he said of his performance.

Speaking about the key factors to his longevity, Anderson said: “I'm not sure there's a key to that. I am fortunate that my body can handle the stress of Test cricket. I haven't had any operations in my career, which is huge, and I take pretty good care of myself. All those things together have allowed me to play for so long and I still enjoy playing the game, so I think hunger helps.

“That comes from different places. I have always loved playing cricket since I was young, and at the moment I love playing in this dressing room. That makes me go a little further. I love this group of guys; The captain and the coach have something great going on right now and it's fun to be a part of it. For me, it's just something I want to try to do for as long as possible.”

After the end of the second Test, there will be a break of nine days before the third Test begins on February 15 in Rajkot. “It's nice that we have a break because here with the conditions, the heat and the work for the bowlers it takes its toll, so taking a little break and rest is good and gives the mind some rest.”

“Anyway, we were going to come out here tomorrow and swing and try to get the runs as quickly as possible. We saw Rehan Ahmed tonight. The scoreboard said 'night watchman' and we said, 'No, he's not.' We saw that last time. He walks away after bowling 20 overs and says, 'I want to put my pads on the skipper' and that's just tremendous confidence,” Anderson concluded.