James Anderson dumped as traditional 'nightwatchman' over acute weakness against spin

London, Nov. 25 (ANI): English cricketer Jimmy Anderson has reportedly been dumped by his Three Lions squad as their nightwatchman in India because they are unsure of his ability to keep out the spinners.

Instead, Graeme Swann has been given the job and would have come out to bat if Kevin Pietersen or Alastair Cook failed to see things through to the end of the second day in the ongoing Test series.

Anderson has been a reliable nightwatchman for England over the past couple of years and is a dab hand at repelling the quicker men in home conditions, the Daily Mirror reports.

However, his nervy and ultimately futile attempt to cope with Pragyan Ojha in Ahmedabad has relegated him to the subs' bench for this tour, the report said.

"Perhaps that was too big an ask for Jimmy. That is my responsibility. I still think it is a bit of a bizarre tactic sometimes, but equally there are arguments for it," England coach Andy Flower admitted. (ANI)