Anderson hopeful of making Test but successor needed
THE latest example of Jimmy Anderson’s mortality will remind England that one day, perhaps not that far away, they will have to somehow replace the man who has become the best bowler in their history.
England yesterday confirmed that Anderson, as revealed in The Mail On Sunday, has a stress fracture of the right shoulder blade and is a doubt for the main business of the summer, the four-Test series against Pakistan beginning next month.
It is an injury that is not considered as serious as it sounds and Anderson remains confident that he will be fit for the first Test at Lord’s on July 14 even though England have ruled out any possibility of red-ball practice before then.
Yet it is the latest in a number of niggling injuries that serve as a warning to England that they must start planning for a future without the bowler who went to the top of the world rankings with his brilliant displays against Sri Lanka.
Anderson, now approaching his 34th birthday, missed the last two Tests of the Ashes last summer with a side strain and the first Test against South Africa last winter with a calf injury that seemed to hinder him throughout the series.
He has returned to his absolute best this season and was outstanding in taking 21 wickets at 10.80 apiece in three Tests against Sri Lanka to raise hopes that he could go on for some time yet and surpass the magical 500-wicket mark.
Four Tests against Pakistan — among his favourite opponents with 45 wickets at 17 — would give Anderson the chance to considerably add to his 454 Test dismissals but clearly England want to treat this latest problem seriously.
A statement yesterday read: ‘Due to the nature of the injury, Jimmy’s availability for the Pakistan Test series will be determined following ongoing management and review by both the ECB and Lancashire medical teams.’ Note series not first Test.
There are, though, a number of reasons to remain cheerful. Anderson did not bowl for six weeks ahead of the Ashes last year so his absence from Lancashire’s two championship games before the first Test should not represent a problem.
And England’s bowling ranks look stronger than for some time, best illustrated by the way Stuart Broad has risen to the top of the rankings himself. It was Broad, of course, who stepped up in Anderson’s absence at Trent Bridge last season to take eight for 15 as Australia were demolished for 60.
The obvious solution if Anderson is missing at Lord’s is for Ben Stokes, who made his own return from injury as a batsman on Friday for Durham, to return and complete an England line-up with considerable batting depth.
Longer term, Chris Woakes, impressive after stepping up when Stokes damaged his knee in the first Test at Headingley, could be most likely to replace Anderson, as he has added pace to his ability to swing the ball. Mark Wood, who looked to the manor born in Test cricket last year, is on the comeback trail himself after two operations on his chronic left ankle and could soon come into contention for the Pakistan series himself.
And there is also Jake Ball, outstanding in county cricket earlier this season for Nottinghamshire but yet to play for England.
For now England’s attentions are on one-day cricket and they today have a chance at Bristol to guarantee at least a share of the series against Sri Lanka in the third one-day international after their emphatic victory at Edgbaston.
The 10-wicket thrashing was achieved with an outstanding performance with bat and ball yet there are still concerns among the coaching staff about the quality of England’s fielding. Much work in that area in particular still needs to be done.