James Anderson In Line For Test Comeback After Injury

Veteran England pacer James Anderson, who hasn’t played a Test since sustaining a calf strain during the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston in August, is likely to return for his team’s upcoming tour of South Africa. The Proteas will host England in a four-match series starting from December 26 at the SuperSport Park Cricket Stadium.

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Anderson had to walk off the field bowling only four overs in the first Ashes Test leading to England’s misery. The host missed his services badly and went to lose that match. They eventually drew the series but failed to retain the urn for the first time since 2001.

Joe Root & Co are currently gearing up for the two-match Test series against New Zealand which starts in Mount Maunganui from 22 November. The 37-year-old James Anderson will also not be a part of the series as he still in the recovery process.

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After having trained at Manchester City’s home ground, the Etihad Stadium, last month in a bid to recover, Anderson will now head to Potchefstroom for a training camp. England Cricket Team’s managing director Ashley Giles feels James Anderson is on the right track and is likely to return during the series against South Africa.

“Jimmy is going out to Potchefstroom,” Ashley Giles, the managing director of England’s men’s cricket, told the BBC. “We’re hopeful. We think he is on track, which is great. The medical team are happy. The older you get, these things linger longer. We felt no point forcing it for this short tour,” he added.

South Africa have always produced seaming wickets for the red-ball cricket. It will be interesting to witness two excellent fast bowling nations go up against each other. Ashely Giles is also keen to see how the Proteas tackle England’s pace duo of Jofra Archer and James Anderson.

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Along with Anderson, Mark Wood, Olly Stone and Jamie Overton will be the other bowlers to take part in the camp. It will be under the supervision of Jonathan Trott, Glen Chapple, Neil Killeen and, subject to finalising a deal as bowling consultant, Darren Gough.

“It will be interesting to see the pitches we play on in South Africa. I think they’ll be green, and they’ll go for a bowler war and take us on. It’s not something I’d take on with Jofra Archer and Jimmy Anderson, but it will be an exciting series,” Giles concluded.