Skipper Smith in Anderson’s sights

Adelaide – England’s all-time leading wicket-taker James Anderson says getting Steve Smith’s wicket cheaply is crucial to the tourists’ chances of squaring the Ashes series at the Adelaide Oval.

Smith (right) was the difference with his unbeaten 141 in Australia’s 10-wicket win in the first Brisbane Test.

Anderson, who looms as England’s big hope in tomorrow’s historic Ashes day-night Test in Adelaide, is hoping quicker pitch conditions will help the tourists’ cause.

“He was the difference between the two teams. That first-innings lead would’ve been huge for us,” Anderson said yesterday.

“So, getting him out here will be crucial.”

Anderson, who has 508 wickets in 130 Tests, will be delighted by the swing and movement with the pink ball off the Adelaide pitch in the twilight conditions along with new-ball partner Stuart Broad.

Smith was made to grind out his runs at the Gabba. It took 261 deliveries for Smith to reach triple figures in Brisbane in what was the slowest of his 21 Test centuries in terms of balls faced.

Smith’s Test-defining unbeaten century over eight-and-a-half hours gave Australia a 26-run first-innings lead which helped swing the momentum firmly towards Australia over the closing days of the Gabba Test.

“The encouraging thing for us is we came up with plans for all their batsmen before the series started and probably 70 percent of them worked,” Anderson said.

“For us that’s encouraging, we can build on that.

“But there’s still that small matter of someone getting 140 which we need to deal with.

“We know the dangers of David Warner at the top of the innings as well, so we’ve got to keep working hard at getting those guys out because we know how pivotal they are in their line-up.” –