James Anderson and Stuart Broad name the toughest batsman they have bowled to

James Anderson and Stuart Broad have been two of the most fearful fast-bowlers over the last two decades. The duo has been really successful for England. Anderson has picked up 584 Test wickets while Broad has taken 485 Test scalps. However, during a recent Instagram Live chat session, the fast bowling pair admitted that they both faced problems against one particular batsman.

Both Anderson and Broad revealed that they didn’t like bowling to the former South African batsman Graeme Smith. During the interaction, the duo revealed how they didn’t like bowling to Smith. Broad was the first to open up the discussion by saying that Smith was an absolute nightmare to bowl to.

The two England stalwarts were involved in an Instagram live session

“Graeme Smith, I found an absolute nightmare,” Broad said in an Instagram Live video with Anderson. Broad also said that he wishes he could have worked bowling around the wicket but bowling over the wicket trying to swing it into the stumps was hopeless.

“I wish I could have bowled at him having worked on my around the wicket stuff and try and draw him to drive through extra cover. But for me just over the wicket trying to swing it into the stumps, hopeless,” Broad said.

After Broad made his revelation, Anderson also said that he had the same problem. The Lancashire pacer recalled the first time he bowled at Smith the first time during 2003 South Africa’s tour of England. He talked about how it was an annoying experience for him.

“I had exactly the same problem. When I first started, my first series against him was 2003 and all I could do then was swing the ball back in. I didn’t have an out-swinger to a left-hander and I couldn’t wobble the ball across him. So I was just feeding his strength. I just got so annoyed,” Anderson said.

Smith scored two double centuries, 277 and 259 at Edgbaston and Lord’s respectively during that tour of 2003. It was also his first series as the captain of the Proteas Test team. Graeme Smith has a terrific record against England. The 39-year-old played 21 Tests against England and scored 2051 runs with an average of 57.