James Anderson to join squad ahead of first Test against India
England pace spearhead James Anderson is all set to join the team in India next week, but will not feature in the first Test starting in Rajkot from November 9. He last played a match in August against Pakistan and was left out of the initial team to the India tour due to a stress fracture.
Elated by the comeback of the spearhead, English skipper Alastair Cook said, “It’s really good news. I think he’s probably about a week ahead of where we thought he would be. He’s ready to come out, so it’s just trying to get him out to Rajkot as quickly as we can. I’ve heard Tuesday he might be on the same flight as Straussy (England and Wales Cricket Board director Andrew Strauss), we hope.”
Anderson suffered a stress fracture to his right shoulder before the series opener against Pakistan in July but returned to take nine wickets from the remaining three Tests. But after the series, Anderson has been out of the team and was even speculated to miss the India series as well.
Though, Anderson will not be part of the first Test, his presence is bound to boost the morale of the English side, who are still reeling from their shock defeat to Bangladesh.
Apart from James Anderson, England have three pacers in their squad- Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes and Steve Finn. In the form of Gareth Batty, Zafar Ansari, and Adil Rashid, England have three prime tweakers in their side to suit the subcontinent standard.
Anderson was a key member of England’s successful 2-1 series win in their 2012 tour to India, picking up 12 wickets.