I will try everything possible to play a role later in the series, states James Anderson
England pacer James Anderson has stated that he will try his level best to get his fitness back and try and play a role later in the series. Anderson, who was picked for the Edgbaston Test, had to leave the field after bowling just four overs, after re-injuring his calf muscle yet again.
After sustaining yet another injury to the very same calf muscle that he tore during a County encounter prior to the start of the Ashes, veteran pacer Jimmy Anderson now faces a race against time in order to be fit for the final two Ashes Tests. Anderson, who was declared fit prior to the start of the first Test, pulled up after just bowling four overs in the first innings and didn't bowl further in the match, which, in a way, contributed to his side's 250-run loss.
The 37-year-old has now stated that he was perhaps a tad too excited ahead of the crunch encounter, and tried too hard, which ultimately resulted in him re-injuring the muscle. However, he has stated that he will try everything within his powers to be back in time for the latter stages of the tournament, and if not possible, will aim to be fit for the upcoming tours of South Africa and New Zealand.
"The adrenalin of the Ashes was probably a factor. There were nerves on the first day of the series and maybe I tried a little harder. Perhaps my calf wasn't happy with the extra strain being placed on it, but to be honest, I don't want to give too much deep thought to what caused the problem," Anderson wrote in his column for The Sun.
"My focus now is to get better and try everything possible to play a role later in the series. I certainly have no intention of giving up. If I don't play against Australia, then the winter tours to New Zealand and South Africa are the next target," he added.
Anderson also admits that he felt "guilty" for letting his team down, despite the situation not being in his hands. He also expects to spend a considerable amount of time out of any cricketing action, giving his calf sufficient time to recover, but hopes to prove his fitness to the English team management in white-ball cricket, before he could step back into the Test arena.Â
"I felt very guilty – I think that's only natural – even though there was not a lot I could have done about it. It's hard to say when I might play again but it won't be for a while. I hope to do some very gentle work at the end of this week – not running or bowling or anything like that – but really it is a case of assessing things on a daily basis," he said.
"The England management want me to play some cricket before I return for a Test match. So I'll have to schedule that as well, which is not so easy because it is mainly Twenty20 matches at the moment." he concluded.