Ando’s own super bowl
JIMMY ANDERSON will have eyes on a remarkable achievement when he faces West Indies at the Ageas Bowl.
Anderson, 37, is the most prolific fast bowler in history with 584 Test wickets.
And he has the chance to inch closer to the 600 milestone in the first match of the series against the tourists, which starts on Wednesday.
Former England batsman Mark Butcher remembers Anderson (below) blazing on to the Test stage with a five-wicket haul in his first innings 17 years ago.
And he expects the evergreen Ashes ace to try and hunt down the 600 mark.
“It will be part of his motivation for getting out on to the field again,” said Butcher.
“He has not been able to complete the last two series he started, the Ashes last summer and against South Africa in the winter.
“Perhaps it’s a sign he’s coming towards the end but maybe the body will hold up well after the long rest we’ve all had.”
But travel restrictions have since been eased and France has dealt with coronavirus to the extent that crowds of up to 5,000 will be allowed there from next week.
Catalans will return to full-squad training tomorrow, the earliest of any of the 12 Super League teams.
Former England head coach McNamara said: “We are really conscious that people have lost their lives and our thoughts go out to them and their families.
“But if we can give a bit of light back, as football and the NRL have done, then that will be good.”
Catalans are three games behind some teams after early fixtures were postponed for a variety of reasons earlier in the season.
And they will feature in the opening-day triple-header on August 2. They play champions St Helens, with Hull KR against Toronto and Huddersfield versus Leeds at Headingley.
The following two weekends are expected to feature triple-headers on the Saturday and Sunday but no venues or fixtures have been announced.
And the rest of the season is also shrouded in confusion because clubs have decided to leave things in the air so they can react to changing circumstances with Covid-19.
That uncertainty is proving the most difficult for Catalans, who have got to arrange flights and accommodation.
But McNamara insists the club will cope and said: “It is a logistical challenge for everyone involved at the club but it’s one we are prepared for. Having the uncertainty is right in some regards because things are changing all the time.
“It would be wrong to set things in place if at some point we’re then able to play in front of fans.
“Right at the start we said we will do everything that is needed.
“We said we’d stay in England if we had to.
“Now teams can visit here and the sooner we get information about that the better.
“But we also know it is a changing environment with lots of variables and it’s right to be flexible.
“Our stadium can host games safely. We have put together a very detailed bio-security document for the RFL.
“The number one priorities are safety and making sure that all clubs get through this financially.”