Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
RISING FROM THE ASHES OF LOCKDOWN LAY-OFF
Broad hopes the break from game for Covid-19 gives Anderson a chance to make his FIFTH Aussie tour
JAMES ANDERSON has been backed to extend his career by up to a year thanks to the coronavirus break, increasing his chances of a remarkable fifth Ashes tour.
As Anderson’s new-ball partner for more than a decade, Stuart Broad knows exactly what the 37-year-old ‘magician’ is capable of, and he reckons a few extra miles can be added to the clock thanks to their enforced lay-off.
The most successful fast bowler in Test history with 584 scalps would be 39 by the time England head to Australia next year and recent injury issues surrounding his calf and shoulder suggested it might be a tour too far.
But Broad is confident this spell of rest for fast bowlers has done them the world of good.
“I hope there’s more to come,” said Broad. “It is an interesting period. Neither of us have had that many breaks over the past few years. This has been 10 weeks without bowling and we don’t know how our bodies will react. It could give us another year.
“Our bodies have got over any niggles that we were carrying and we’ve freshened up which could extend both of our careers.
“Because of workload issues with a jammed schedule, I don’t know how much I will play with Jimmy this summer, but hopefully we can bowl a lot more in the future because the last time I saw him and bowled with him was in Cape Town.
“He walked off with fivefer there in the first innings and I was walking behind him with those amazing stands and the mountain in the background thinking ‘this bloke is a magician.’
“I feel so lucky to have played in an era where I’ve been able to share the pitch so much with him and learn from him.”
Anderson might be nearing the closing curtain of his astonishing career, but he has vowed to keep playing until both his body and mind tell him it is time to walk away.
To see him sitting in the bowels of the MCG in 2017, bloodied, bruised and satisfied with toil that brought him another four wickets out of the 60 he has taken Down Under, it is clear the desire to win in Australia once more remains strong.
“Any series win away from home just feels a little bit more special,” added Broad. “It is because you’ve not grown up with those conditions so you are really testing yourself.
“An away series win and sitting in the changing room afterwards with your team-mates celebrating is incredible.”
The ECB have confirmed there will be no domestic professional cricket until August 1 at the earliest due to the pandemic.
The recreational game continues to be suspended until further notice.