Ashes: James Anderson questions if Australia bowling was 'dangerous'

England seamer James Anderson asked the umpire if Australia’s bowling was dangerous during the first Ashes Test.
Anderson, England’s number 11, was batting when number 10 Jake Ball received five successive bouncers in the second innings in Brisbane.
Under the laws of the game, umpires are allowed to intervene if they deem bowling to be dangerous.
“I mentioned it to umpire Marais Erasmus, but he didn’t think it was too bad,” Anderson, 35, told BBC Sport.
“We have to plan to get a barrage, which we are doing.”
The second Test of the five-match series begins at 04:00 GMT on Saturday in Adelaide.
In both innings at the Gabba, England’s tail were blown away by the hostility of the Australia pace attack, much like they were in the 5-0 whitewash four years ago.
Ball faced one bouncer from Mitchell Starc and four from Pat Cummins, the last of which he fended to fly slip and was caught for one.
Australia, who must win the series to regain the Ashes, completed a 10-wicket win on the fifth morning.
What do the laws say?
Law 41.6.1 of the Laws of Cricket reads: “The bowling of short-pitched deliveries is dangerous if the bowler’s end umpire considers that, taking into consideration the skill of the striker, by their speed, length, height and direction they are likely to inflict physical injury on him/her.
“The fact that the striker is wearing protective equipment shall be disregarded.”
If the umpire decides the bowling is dangerous, he can call a no-ball, warn the bowler and, if he offends again, remove him from the attack.
At the time, BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew said: “The treatment dished out to Jake Ball – five deliveries, all aimed at his head – should have been called intimidatory by the umpires.”
Anderson said on Thursday: “I don’t know what constitutes dangerous bowling. It’s the umpire’s personal take on it.
“I was batting with Jake in the second innings and he got bowled two short balls from Cummins that went over the shoulder. There was a third very close and wasn’t given and I questioned when does it get dangerous.
“Marais said he was happy with it at the time. It’s down to the umpires.”
South African Erasmus and Pakistan’s Aleem Dar were the on-field umpires for the first Test.
Australia pace bowler Starc said after the second day at the Gabba that he “can’t wait” to bowl on quicker surfaces.”
Analysis – ‘It can be very frightening’ Former South Africa fast bowler Allan Donald on BBC Radio 5 live:
There’s definitely a line you can’t overstep. Erasmus could have stepped in and said: ‘Enough is enough.’
It brings me back to a game we played in 1997-98, when Brett Lee bowled me four bouncers in a row. That’s their way of dealing with the tail. They made a statement they’re going to come hard at the tail.
That’s the Aussie way – they’ve always done that. Steve Waugh put Brett Lee in charge of demolishing tails and it was pretty mean, and intimidating batting at nine, 10 and 11.
That tactic will never go away as far as Australia are concerned. There needs to be control in terms of how to say: “You can’t bowl three, four bouncers in a row, never mind five.”
It can be very frightening down there. I was amazed Erasmus didn’t step in and say: “That’s enough.” (BBC)