James Anderson backed by Steven Finn to play key role in England's five match Test tour of India

Former England bowler Steven Finn is backing "superhuman" James Anderson to bounce back from his disappointing Ashes series when the five-test tour of India kicks off his month.

The 41-year-old picked up just five wickets from four appearances against the Australians last summer, with those scalps coming at an average of 85.40.

That has heightened speculation over the seamer's future, especially after long-time new-ball partner Stuart Broad called time on his career in July.

Anderson, though, signed a new central contract in the autumn and remains determined to keep going, with his sights set on reaching 700 test wickets.

And Finn reckons his former international team-mate can claw closer to that landmark by playing a starring role in the sub-continent.

“Jimmy is superhuman,” he said. “People have been anticipating he will retire for about seven years now and he keeps surprising people and performing.

“He didn’t have a fantastic summer last year, but I know from knowing him as a character that he wouldn’t be doing this unless he felt he could make a difference."

Anderson currently has 690 test wickets to his name, putting him third on the all-time leaderboard, only 18 scalps behind second-placed Shane Warne.

Plenty of those wickets have come in the subcontinent, despite often being described as someone who struggles for form away from home, with Anderson registering 34 dismissals in 13 matches at an average of just over 29 in India.

“I think a determined Jimmy Anderson, well managed, is someone who will be important to England," Finn continued. "Especially making the most of the reverse swing because he is an absolute master at that.

“He would have worked on his fitness, he would have trained hard, he has got the skills and has got the experience so I anticipate when he plays, he’ll be an important cog.”

England are looking to become the first away team to win a test series in India since 2012/13, when Alastair Cook's side registered a 2-1 victory.

Anderson and Finn were both part of that tour, but subsequent visits have not been quite as successful, with a 4-0 hammering in 2016 followed by a 3-1 defeat in 2021.

Ben Stokes' team will therefore be looking to repeat the heroics of 12 years ago when the series gets underway in Hyderabad on January 25.

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