Jimmy makes it loud and clear to new recruits

JIMMY ANDERSON has told England’s junior players to “chirp up”.

Anderson will keep the vice-captain’s role under Joe Root for the two-Test series against New Zealand, starting a week tomorrow.

That is despite the return of all-rounder Ben Stokes, who was unlikely to get it back while facing a trial for affray in August and who will miss the Lord’s Test against India as a result.

Fast bowler Anderson, who was named vice-captain for the Ashes shambles, wants the whole squad to turn up the volume for the New Zealand series.

“I think when you’ve got a group of senior players like we have, it’s down to all of us to help this team progress and lead from the front,” said Anderson, who is England’s most senior player with 134 Test appearances.

“It’s a group effort. We’re a team, we need everybody’s input – Alastair Cook’s input, Stuart Broad – and we need the younger guys to start chirping up a bit more and having some more input.

“That’s what we want to do as a team, get to a point where everyone has their say.

“We’ve got an open and honest dressingroom, all we’re trying to do is improve this team. It probably is one of the quieter England teams. I think the Ashes wouldn’t have helped in that respect.” NEW ZEALAND slow left-armer Mitchell Santner has been ruled out of the series with a knee injury.