ROOT ATION POLICY
Joe swaps his quicks with Broad in and Jimmy out WOLFPACK STILL ON PROWL
STUART BROAD is in line to restart his Test career at Old Trafford today after James Anderson was left out of the second match against the West Indies.
Both England’s 37-year-old record wicket-taker and Mark Wood have officially been ‘rested.’
Broad – who was furious at being axed in Southampton last week – and Chris Woakes are favourites to make the final XI, with returning skipper Joe Root keen to protect his pace assets as they get older.
“It is an exciting period for English cricket in terms of fast bowling,” said Root.
“And I think one thing we have to be smart with is making sure we don’t blow them out and they miss months of cricket.
“We need to get the balance right, especially in this period with so many back-to-back matches. They need to be well looked after.”
Wood and Jofra Archer got the nod over Broad in the defeat at the Ageas Bowl but the 34-year-old looks set to be given the chance to make a point in Manchester.
Root’s handling of his pace attack over the next 18 months will require some deft man-management skills, but for now he is adamant Broad and Anderson (inset)
major roles to play.
“I think to wish them away early or to push them to one side would be stupid, I really do,” added Root.
“One thing you know about Broady and Jimmy is that they are still performing right at the level needed for Test cricket.
“If things have to be slightly different, then we might have to think outside the box and not play them in every game or not play them together all the time.” Root will need every bit of his captaincy experience this week as England battle to overcome the opening defeat in a three-match series.
At least Root the batsman will add weight to a line-up that failed to make the most of their chances in Southampton.
That failure has cost Joe Denly his place and most likely his Test career, with his Kent team-mate Zak Crawley keeping his.
“It was a very difficult decision we’ve had to make on Joe, who has done a good job for us,” said Root.
“But we have gone a different way. Zak’s progression and the way his game is looking to be getting stronger is a great sign.” still
TORONTO WOLFPACK will be included in the reworked Super League fixture list released today after pledges to help them finish the season.
The Canadian club revealed on Tuesday how visa issues with their seven overseas players mean they might not be able to fulfil their fixtures.
The players – including marquee signing Sonny Bill Williams (left) – use similar visas to overseas golfers or tennis stars taking part in competitions in Britain.
They limit individuals to six months in the UK at any one have time and expire at the end of this month.
Ordinarily those players would have been travelling to and from the squad’s UK base to Canada for home matches – but that has not been possible during lockdown.
Both Super League and the RFL have said they will do all they can to help the Wolfpack on the issue.
And Toronto will be part of the new 22-match season that is published today as talks continue. Super League said (below) that news of the Wolfpack’s visa issues were concerning and the timing was unhelpful.
A statement said: “We are looking into the details and have offered the club, and the RFL, our full support to resolve these issues ahead of the season restarting on August 2.”
The RFL also insists that it will continue talks with the Government in coming weeks.
It said: “We have been working closely with the relevant authorities to help Toronto Wolfpack with the issues caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.”