James Anderson reminds England just how much they will miss him - but also just how much he still has left to give

Anderson has returned better figures and bowled more probing spells - but if you were to compile a list of his best performances away from home, Adelaide 2017 would be on it

James Anderson showed there's plenty of life in the old dog yet in Adelaide (AFP)

Exactly eleven years ago, on a warm sunny evening, Mike Hussey eased a good-length ball through the covers to complete one of the most sensational Ashes triumphs ever known. To this day, the word “Adelaide” conjures up macabre memories for English cricket fans of a certain vintage. The moment at which defeat was snatched from the jaws of... well, not defeat. The point at which all hope was lost.

The bowler who delivered that ball was a kid called James Anderson.

On 5 December 2017, Anderson returned to the Adelaide Oval and claimed his first ever five-wicket haul in Australia. He is 35 now, the hair a little tidier, the action a little more refined, the skills sharpened to a point. And when there is spring in the pitch, moisture in the air, and movement in the surface, there are still few bowlers in the world you would want to face less.

At Brisbane, Anderson, like the rest of England’s seamers, was restricted to four-over spells to avoid draining him in the heat. It may have been the optimum way of using more dynamic bowlers like Jake Ball and Stuart Broad, but Anderson is the sort of operator who likes to work his way into a spell, take his time, sniff a weakness. In more temperate conditions here, he bowled unchanged through the first hour, and it was a sight to watch.

Peter Handscomb barely stood a chance. Anderson toyed with him outside the off stump, drew him forward, made him dance. Handscomb tried shuffling across his crease, and he tried staying put. Still he could barely middle the ball. The one time he did, getting decent contact on a late cut, Dawid Malan snapped up the catch at third slip.

Later in the day, a moment to send shivers up the spine of any England fan. Mitchell Starc lobbed a catch straight up in the air, Anderson lunged for it, dropped it, landed awkwardly on his right leg. His trousers were ripped to shreds. He was clutching his hamstring as he left the field.

It was a reminder, perhaps, of just how pivotal Anderson remains to this team, even in conditions that have not traditionally suited him. This has been one of the best years of his career, and even as he approaches his late-30s, it is still possible to see signs of improvement. His career bowling average is the lowest it has been since his fifth match: 14 years and almost 500 wickets ago.

Anderson was at his irrepressible best on day four in Adelaide (Getty)

And so when Anderson returned to the field in a new pair of trousers a few minutes later, something of England’s spirit seemed to return with him. He cleaned up Starc in his first over back, holding the pink ball aloft to celebrate a five-wicket haul. He has also had four potential wickets overturned on review.

Anderson has returned better figures, bowled longer and more probing spells. But if you were to compile a list of his best performances away from home, Adelaide 2017 would have to be somewhere on it.

Anderson was far too good as Australia were skittled out cheaply (AFP)

“Everything’s clicked,” he said when asked about his stellar year. “I’ve felt in good rhythm throughout the year. I feel like I'm bowling as well as I ever have, and my body is in as good a shape as it ever has been.

“People keep telling me that I'm about to retire, so I want to show them I can keep going. I’m not planning on stopping any time soon. I absolutely love this game, and I’ve been very fortunate to play it for a long time. I’m not planning on stopping any time soon.”

This, perhaps, is the fundamental misconception about Anderson. His surly demeanour, his barbed comments, his guarded interview style: all these feed into the image of Anderson as something of a reluctant workhorse, the quintessential grumpy fast bowler. And when things are going against him, that scowl of his could shatter glass. But buried beneath it all is a simple, earnest adoration of the game. Cricket will miss Anderson when he finally goes, but you can guarantee he will miss it more.

It was Anderson's first five-wicket haul Down Under and all too timely (Getty)

Will it be enough to see England to a remarkable victory? Who knows? “To be honest, we’re delighted to have any sort of chance to win the game,” he said. “We didn’t think we would after two days. There’s a huge amount of work left. But we’re in with a chance. We’re going to turn up with the same hunger, the same fight.”

Of course, Anderson might not quite be done with this game yet. With England still requiring 178 and just six wickets remaining, there is every possibility that Anderson could be striding to the crease with just a few runs remaining. Those of us who have not fainted by that point will be reassured to know that Anderson is very much up for hitting the winning runs.

“I’ll fancy a bat if we need 10,” he said. “Any more than that, I think we’re struggling.” Fanciful, perhaps. But eleven years after one of the most traumatic deliveries of his career, there would be few more emphatic ways to set the record straight.