Published: Sep 29, 2016, 02:10 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 29, 2016, 02:10 PM (IST)
Just when one thought that England can heave some sigh of relief having their key players on the side apart from Eoin Morgan and Alex Hales, but now with James Anderson also missing out from the series due to injury, it adds further dilemma. This also puts question on his presence for the India tour. Anderson had missed his first Test against Pakistan due to stress fracture in his right shoulder and since then has been plagued by same injury and has been advised to rest ahead of the India tour. The 34-year-old returned for the Pakistan series but missed his domestic season for his county side Lancashire at the end of the domestic season. Anderson has taken the precautionary measures and scans have suggested he should stay away from the international games as precautionary measure.
With this, seamer Jake Ball, who made his debut at Lord’s against Pakistan, is called as replacement and is set to provide cover for the veteran for two Tests against Bangladesh. Speaking to The Gaurdian, Anderson expressed concern over England’s schedule in the coming months with the side left to play seven Tests in the coming months on the subcontinent, “It’s a tough one because as a player, if you’re fit, you want to play, simple as that. No matter what the format, you’re desperate to play. But there may well come a time when it will get managed. At 34 I probably have to manage myself, or be managed, quite well. You want, if possible, to play every Test but India is going to be five back-to-back and that’s a huge ask for any bowler.”
England are set to begin their red-ball season with Bangladesh tour without their prolific batsman, limited-over skipper and now bowler Anderson. Test skipper Alastair Cook will travel to Bangladesh before the Test squad reaches. Cook will then return to United Kingdom (UK) for the birth of his second child. He will be away for the warm-up matches, however, will be there well before the first Test begins at Chittagong starting on October 20. Meanwhile, the ECB has announced that South Africa will face the second-string England Lions ahead of their four-Test series in England next year. ALSO READ: BAN promise ‘unprecedented security’ to ENG
Later, West Indies will have trio of three-day games against county sides before their series against England. In July, the ECB confirmed the major international fixtures for both the South Africa and West Indies tours, with England also staging the 2017 Champions Trophy tournament featuring the world’s top eight one-day nations.
