‘I just like not knowing them away from cricket, not being mates with them’: James Anderson on not being friends with Australian players

James Anderson, England’s all-time leading wicket-taker in Test cricket, has been a key figure for his team in Ashes success.
Anderson, who boasts of a wealth of experience, knows how to get the best out of himself on any surface. The world-class bowler will be a major threat to the Australian batters and is ready for the battle.
“I just want to win the Ashes again. It feels like a long time since I’ve been involved in a winning Ashes,” he was quoted as saying The Telegraph.
Anderson also said that playing cricket’s most celebrated rivalry brings the best out of him and this time the Three Lions will be ready to go toe to toe with the Kangaroos.
“Whenever I play against Australia they try and play fire with fire. They come back even harder at you. Usually that ends with England backing down, perhaps not this time. I am guessing Ben will want to go even harder. He will want to be more positive, more aggressive and really take it to Australia,” he said.
The Ashes is a fiercely contested series, and is often seen as a test of the two countries’ cricketing prowess. Anderson also admitted that not having friends in the rival camp brings out the best in him.
“I just like not knowing them away from cricket, not being mates with them. I just like seeing them as an opponent and really trying to get into the battle against them. I don’t think it has happened yet but the amount of cricket played in franchise cricket with the mix of nationalities could in the future take the edge away from the spark you get in the Ashes,” he explained.