Anderson ‘immensely proud’ as Red Rose rise to Test
JIMMY Anderson says he is ‘immensely proud’ that Lancashire have played such a key role in ensuring England will play Test cricket this summer.
Emirates Old Trafford’s Hilton Garden Inn is home of the West Indies squad for the next two weeks as they see out their quarantine period and start training for the series against England.
After the first Test at Hampshire’s Ageas Bowl, starting on July 8, they will return to Manchester for the second and third games, starting on July 16 and 20. With Pakistan confirming they will also fly to England for their Test and T20 series, and with Australia and Ireland also scheduled to play one-day matches, Emirates Old Trafford could host up to 20 days of international cricket this summer - although almost certainly it will be behind closed doors.
And Anderson, who was training at the ground before the arrival of the West Indies, says the club are playing a key role in the future of English cricket following their bold £60m transformation of the venue.
He said: “I’m immensely proud. It’s great for the club to be able to help put international cricket on in such a strange time.
“It means all the hard work they have put in over the last few years, getting the ground up to speed, getting the hotel put in - now, it is a bio-secure cricket ground which I don’t think Lancashire thought would be used to describe it - but it’s brilliant they can help.
“A lot of work over the last few years has paid off.”