The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)

Test recall for Broad

Cricket: Denly dropped while Anderson and Wood rested

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A week on from seeking reassuranc­es over his England future Stuart Broad is set for a leading role in the second Test against the West Indies, with James Anderson and Mark Wood rested.

Broad was left out on home soil for the first time in eight years in the #raisetheba­t series opener and caused a stir with a stark television appearance in which he described himself “frustrated, gutted and angry”.

England went on to lose the match by four wickets and will take the field at Emirates Old Trafford this morning showing at least three changes to their XI, one of which will surely see Broad’s comeback as leader of the attack. The return of captain Joe Root led to the almost inevitable dropping of Joe Denly after 15 unconvinci­ng appearance­s at the highest level, but Anderson and Wood have both been left out of a 13man squad with an eye on workload management.

As if to ram the point home the pair were officially listed as ‘rested’ by the England and Wales Cricket Board, rather than among a separate group of seven reserve players.

The condensed nature of the schedule meant a rotation policy among the quicks was always forecast and, after sending down a combined 74 overs at the Ageas Bowl, Anderson and Wood have been shuffled out. For England’s record wicket-taker it means he must wait until the third Test to bowl from the James Anderson End at his home ground.

On Denly’s omission, Root said: “It’s never an easy decision, never easy having to leave someone out. With Joe, over a period of time he’s done a brilliant job for us, he’s helped show our identity as a side. It’s a very difficult decision but we’ve gone a different way.

“You watch Zak’s progressio­n since he’s been involved in the team, his game has continued to get stronger.

“Joe is someone who has done a fantastic job for us over a period of time and he’ll be as frustrated as anyone that he’s not been able to convert those opportunit­ies.”

Root, while reluctant to critique too much of what he saw in the first Test, does believe his team-mates are ready to dial up their performanc­e levels.

He said: “The rhythm of our innings second time around was better, it looked like we were in the game a little bit more.”

Meanwhile, West Indies captain Jason Holder has a laser-like focus on the second Test against England, disregardi­ng the opportunit­y the tourists have to make history over the next couple of weeks.

Having seen off their hosts by four wickets in the #raisetheba­t opener at Southampto­n, the Windies have two chances at Emirates Old Trafford to seal a first Test series win on these shores in 32 years.

Not since 1992/93 – when the likes of Brian Lara, Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose were in their pomp – have the Windies prevailed in an overseas Test series consisting of more than two matches against major opposition.

But Holder, the top ranked Test all-rounder in the world and the number two bowler, said: “I haven’t mentioned anything about history to the guys. It’s hard for us to get caught up in the peripheral stuff.

“Winning the first Test match is just one piece of the puzzle.”

 ??  ?? BACK IN THE FOLD: Stuart Broad is in England’s 13-man squad to face the West Indies
BACK IN THE FOLD: Stuart Broad is in England’s 13-man squad to face the West Indies

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