James Anderson expressed his concerns over the lifeless Edgbaston pitch in the Ashes opener, comparing it to “kryptonite” for him. He apprehends that if the remaining pitches in the series continue to be flat and slow, he might be unable to assist England in their fight against Australia.

Despite Captain Ben Stokes’ request for “flat, fast wickets,” the Edgbaston surface was described by Stuart Broad as “soulless” and one of the slowest he had encountered in England.

Anderson acknowledged his subpar performance in the opening match, where he returned from a groin injury and recorded match figures of 1-109. However, he expressed frustration with the unhelpful pitch, stating that it offered minimal swing, reverse swing, seam movement, bounce, or pace.

“I have worked on developing my skills to be effective in any conditions, but nothing seemed to work. It felt like an uphill battle. Despite some rustiness, I gave my all,” Anderson shared in his Daily Telegraph column. “I believe I have more to contribute to the team, and I aim to make amends at Lord’s.”

England declared on 393-8 on the first day and held a dominant position for a significant portion of the match. However, Australia’s cautious approach paid off as they secured a two-wicket victory, primarily due to a 55-run ninth-wicket partnership between captain Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon.

Despite the defeat, Anderson highlighted several positives to carry into the second Test at Lord’s, commencing on June 28. He emphasized the value of the team’s playing style and the positive reactions it garnered, as noted by coach Brendon McCullum.

“While we ultimately aim to win and will be judged by the result, it’s crucial that we assess ourselves based on our performance as a team,” Anderson concluded optimistically.