New Zealand v England: James Anderson calls for positivity ... but gives up on winning

 
Stephen Brenkley8 March 2013

Jimmy Anderson, the England fast bowler, admitted today that the side had surrendered realistic hope of winning the First Test match.

The tourists came into the match as 7-4 on favourites to beat New Zealand but have been outplayed with bat and ball in the first two days of play.

The Kiwis finished the third day on 402 for 7 in their first innings, a lead of 235.

“I guess so,” said Anderson when asked if a draw was the best the tourists could expect. “Without looking too far ahead we have just got to try make sure we bat much better in the second innings.

“We have first of all got to get three wickets which might not be that easy with someone like Brendon McCullum at the crease, then when it is our turn to bat again we’ve just got to do much better.

“We have got to make sure guys get in and once they do, they’ve got to get their heads down. Maybe they can be a bit more positive later in the innings but first and foremost we have got to try and bat as patiently as we can.”

England’s main adversary was Hamish Rutherford, who made 171, the sixth-highest debut innings in Tests. After making his debut at 19 in the Otago side, Rutherford dropped out of the reckoning for almost two seasons.

“There were a few dark times, things go through your head,” he said. “I started work for the coffee shop and did some bar work and started to find a little bit more life enjoyment through playing cricket for enjoyment rather than looking at it from a sole work point of view.

“Cricket is not the be all and end all. I’m not saving babies. At the end of the day you knock off, you knock off. You score runs, that’s your job, that’s my approach.”

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