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Anderson enjoys rare smile at Kohli scalp

Rory DollardAAP
James Anderson (L) was all smiles after dismissing Indian ace Virat Kohli in the first Test.
Camera IconJames Anderson (L) was all smiles after dismissing Indian ace Virat Kohli in the first Test. Credit: AP

James Anderson could not resist a rare smile after getting rid of Virat Kohli first ball and helping drag England back into the first Test.

Anderson enjoys a carefully cultivated 'Mr Grumpy' persona on the field, harrumphing his way through most of his masterful spells in recent years, but he let the mask slip after consigning India's inspirational skipper to a golden duck on Thursday.

Having just removed Cheteshwar Pujara with a beauty, the 39-year-old landed the jackpot with his very next delivery - summoning a fiendishly difficulty tempter just outside off stump and collecting a healthy edge that whistled through to Jos Buttler's gloves.

Anderson and Kohli have been squaring off home and away since 2012, but this was the first time in a dozen matches that Anderson had sent Kohli back to the pavilion.

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It takes something out of the ordinary to get Anderson's juices flowing after 18 years of Test cricket and 619 scalps . This one, taking him level in third on the all-time list with India's own record holder Anil Kumble, did the trick nicely.

Anderson leapt in the air, charged through a barrage of back-slapping from his delighted teammates and allowed himself to break out into a long, unbroken grin.

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"Yeah, I probably used some muscles that I don't often use there didn't I?" he confessed afterwards, poker-face firmly back in position.

"Getting their best player out is something that doesn't happen that often and getting Kohli out that early is quite unusual. So it was just an outpouring of emotion, especially with Virat being such an influential player for them.

"There was some emotion there in the celebration after getting him out, knowing how important that was for the team."

Anderson's double strike came during a spirited passage of play from England, who were on the ropes after Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul racked up an opening stand of 97 in reply to the hosts' 183 all out.

"I thought it was a really good fightback, we battled really well," Anderson said, admitting the subsequent rainfall then provided a real anti-climax to the day.

"It was very frustrating with the way the day finished. Once the cloud comes over here it can be quite bowler friendly and very difficult for batting so we wanted to stay out there as long as possible.

"We'll keep our fingers crossed if we get some play tomorrow that we can do the same sorts of things and create some pressure."

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