Root: Jimmy isn’t finished at Test level
JOE Root insists England shouldn’t write off Jimmy Anderson.
The Lancashire bowler missed all but four overs of the Ashes series this summer because of a calf injury.
And despite him making a return for Lancashire seconds, a recurrence saw him ruled out of the Test series in New Zealand, which started last night.
Anderson, 37, has been posting videos on social media of him bowling both in the nets and outside at La Manga Club resort in Spain, adding ‘another day of building up my bowling. Progressing nicely.’
England’s record wicket-taker will travel to Potchefstroom - alongside fellow seamers Craig Overton, Ollie Robinson, Olly Stone and Mark Wood and batsman Jonny Bairstow - for a training camp that runs from December 1-14 with a view to proving his fitness before the Test series against South Africa.
And those who have written off the Lancashire star are premature, says Test skipper Root.
He said: “The one thing we shouldn’t do is start saying he’s coming to the end (of his career) now because every time that’s been a conversation he’s made it very clear in his performances that it’s not the case.
While he is performing as he is and has the desire as he’s shown to get himself fit and ready, then you’ve got to make the most of that for sure.”
Lancashire’s Saqib Mahmood and Matty Parkinson, who are in the Test squad for the first time, missed out on selection for the first Test at Mount Maunganui.
Dom Sibley made his debut at the top of the order.