Follow UsDespite being a threatening player over the years, Corey Anderson’s life came to a stand still when the United States of America did not consider him for the 2023 ODI World Cup qualifier in Zimbabwe. However, on his Major League Cricket (MLC) debut for San Francisco Unicorns, Anderson showed the world yet again that he belongs to the highest level.
The former New Zealand all-rounder walked out at 22/3 with his side staring at a grim total. But from thereon, everything just clicked for Anderson and the Unicorns when he partnered with Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan. Together, the duo took on MI New York’s bowling, including smashing Kagiso Rabada and Trent Boult at the death.
Anderson ended the innings unbeaten on 91, scoring four boundaries and seven sixes, taking the Unicorns to 215 at the end of their innings. In the aftermath of the match, the all-rounder insisted that he still has it in ‘him’ to play the game at the highest level.
"I still feel like I'm a similar player," the former Kiwi allrounder said after starring in San Francisco's 22-run win over MI New York. "I feel like I've still got the talent to be able to play at the top level. I haven't really doubted that.
His move to the USA was always questionable, considering that the Western country didn’t have the best resources to help the sport's growth. But over the last few years, cricket as a sport has grown massively in the States, and Anderson pointed out that his past experience of facing top-quality bowlers has helped him sustain success.
"There were probably periods in America when I did doubted that. Just because of lack of some of the facilities in a country like USA. Sometimes it makes it hard to keep improving your game. But yeah, I've always backed myself. I don't want to sound arrogant or anything. But I've played against some of the best players in the world. And I've done at times, okay against them. And I've done badly at times as well.
The all-rounder hasn’t played a lot of cricket against top-quality players in the recent past and insisted that it was ‘great’ to face Boult again and get a few shots against him.
"To do it against some of those guys, facing Trent Boult again after many years of, you know, from living with them to bowling at each other in the nets. it's great. But yeah, I am a domestic here now, a local,” Anderson added.
The MLC has already garnered eye-balls and has brought out some new faces to the sport, with the first set of games in Dallas, at the Grand Prairie Stadium, and Anderson’s innings was just a trailer for what to expect.
“Some of them probably don't see that as being the case because I've played for New Zealand. But yeah, America is now my home. And I absolutely love it here. And yeah, just being part of the who spectacles is unbelievable," the 32-year-old added.