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regular-article-logo Sunday, 12 May 2024

Wait-and-watch for James Anderson

Bowling a total of 27.5 overs in the Test, the architects of England’s emphatic win in the first Test never looked to be getting tired

A Staff Reporter Calcutta Published 11.02.21, 02:04 AM
James Anderson

James Anderson File picture

James Anderson, one of the architects of England’s emphatic win in the first Test, didn’t really have to exert himself. Bowling a total of 27.5 overs in the Test, Anderson never looked to be getting tired.

Yet, England seem to be wary of his workload and going by what head coach Chris Silverwood said, seeing the 38-year-old seamer rested for the second Test beginning Saturday shouldn’t come as a surprise.

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“Yes, Jimmy is a class act, but you’ll have to wait and see. We’ve got many bowlers here that we could play at any given point. I feel very lucky that we have an abundance of talent,” Silverwood said during a virtual interaction with UK media on Wednesday.

“I’m not reluctant to change a winning team if it’s the best thing to do for the players and the team as well as our longevity over a long period. You run the risk of the result being different, but you could play the same team and the result could still be different, because we know India are a very good team and are going to come back hard,” the head coach added.

However, Silverwood also hinted that the visitors could include both Anderson and his long-time new-ball partner Stuart Broad in the XI at some point in the series.

“Has it crossed my mind (to play both Broad and Anderson)? Yes, they are both class acts, but things are working at the moment and we have to look after our players,” he said.

Young off-spinner Dom Bess wasn’t too effective in the second innings, though he bowled a beauty to account for Washington Sundar. But the team management does have faith in him.

“I’m not worried. Dom is still in good spirits. Everyone has a bad day every now and again, and I can accept that. It’s not through a lack of effort.

“We will get to the nets and help him find some rhythm. He has shown he can get us wickets, so I’m sure he will be fine,” Silverwood said.

Talking about crowds returning from the second Test, Silverwood feels “some sort of normality will give the lads a lift and make more of a buzz”.

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