VICE MAN ENGLAND STAR TAMMY DEMANDS A TESTING TIME

Swing king Anderson to be Root’s Ashes No.2 in place of absent Stokes

JAMES ANDERSON will be England’s Ashes vicecaptain in place of the suspended Ben Stokes.

Already the leader of England’s attack, he is the man with more Australian experience than any squad member after making his one-day debut in Melbourne back in 2002, and is the logical choice.

And on their opening day in the field in a first-class tour match, Anderson was visibly on hand to support skipper Joe Root as they dealt with a sprained ankle to bowler Jake Ball (below). The Nottinghamshire quick bowler was forced off the field, raising more concerns ahead of the Ashes.

It was on the morning of this game that England’s squad were informed that if Root were to leave the field for a period of time it would be Anderson who would take the reins.

Stuart Broad and former skipper Alastair Cook were on the radar of head coach Trevor Bayliss as other possible contenders to take on the role, but it is the 35-year-old Anderson who has been handed the responsibility on his fourth Ashes tour.

And if Root were to miss a game completely, it would be Anderson (right) rather than Cook who would lead the side.

Anderson has long been credited with having a sharp cricket brain and was even touted as a possible captain when Cook stepped down. Before his official position emerged, the Lancashire star said: “In the last couple of years, I have seen my role in the team as a leader.

“With young bowlers coming into the team I have tried to help out as much as I can and on the field. I think it’s important that

Joe has people he can rely upon.”

Root can certainly rely on the man with 506 Test wickets, who was again the pick of England’s bowlers on a day when Ball’s injury sent a shiver down the spine of a squad already missing four other pace bowlers.

A positive sign came when Ball was able to walk off the ground after tumbling in his delivery stride. With Gary Ballance already on as a sub fielder, fielding coach Paul Collingwood had to don Mason Crane’s whites as the 13th man.

He came on for one over and nearly had a run out when skipper Tim Paine took him on at mid-on before declaring on 233-9 under the lights, 60 behind England.

Test bowling only Matches ....... 129 Balls ....... 28259 Runs ....... 13860 Wkts ........... 506 BBI ............ 7-42 BBM ........... 11-71 Ave ........... 27.39 Econ ........... 2.94 SR .............. 55.8 5w ................. 24 10w...