James Anderson set to miss England’s Ashes opener in Brisbane

England’s record wicket-taker James Anderson is set to miss the Ashes opener in Brisbane.
The 39-year-old seamer was inked in to lead the attack against Australia at the Gabba on Wednesday and trained as normal in the tourists’ last major practice session 48 hours ahead of the match.
But a report in The Cricketer suggests Anderson has picked up a minor calf problem which will see him miss the first Test.
The PA news agency understands the decision has been made to leave him out of the squad, with a view to having him available by the time the series moves on to a day/night contest in Adelaide.
Earlier, Anderson was looking forward to a renewed battle with Australian batsman Steven Smith during the Ashes.
Smith has been relatively prolific against England in Test cricket, while Anderson has become the third-highest wicket-taker in the history of the longest format of the international game.
Anderson vs Smith
“As a bowler you always look at the best player, and for me over the last three, four or five years, Smith’s been Australia’s best player,” Anderson told Fox Cricket’s Road to the Ashes podcast.
“He’s been the one they rely on for their volume of runs, obviously supported by guys around him like David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne recently. But he’s been their go-to in the last few years, so he’ll be the one that we will be keen to get out early.”
The five Tests for the 2021-22 Ashes series will be played in Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. Anderson has taken 60 Test wickets in Australia – and 632 in total.
“We’ve got to start well. The Gabba in particular is huge for us. If we can get one-up on a few batters early, then that can have a real snowball effect throughout the series,” he added.
“Bowling in Australia is not necessarily more difficult, it’s just different. In England the Dukes swings more often than not, and with the wickets we play on, you can get some seam movement as well.
“But you’re not going to get much swing with a Kookaburra, so it’s just about trying to hit good areas in the Ashes. You’ve just got to be relentless, and so accurate. And that’s where people do struggle.”
Latest
-
England
England batter Harry Brook believes he is a more powerful hitter than in 2022
Brook was the star performer during day one of England’s Test warm-up against a New Zealand XI in Hamilton.
-
England
Harry Brook smashes 97 as England pile on runs in New Zealand warm-up clash
The tourists racked up 465 all out in just 69.2 overs.
-
England
Harry Brook hits nine sixes en route to 97 as England start New Zealand tour
Captain Ben Stokes opted not to take the field, allowing Ollie Pope to lead the side instead.
-
Women's Cricket
England quartet enter WPL auction at top £50,000 base price
Nat and Katherine Sciver-Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone and Danni Wyatt are among 24 players at the maximum reserve.
-
England
England spinner Jack Leach ‘having too much fun to get ill now’
The Somerset spinner was hospitalised the last time he toured New Zealand with England.
-
Women's Cricket
Sarah Glenn hopes aggressive mindset helps England do ‘something really special’
Jon Lewis’ squad play their final warm-up against New Zealand in Cape Town.
-
England
Michael Vaughan set to be only charged individual to appear at racism hearing
A hearing has been confirmed to take place between March 1 and 9.
-
New Zealand
Kyle Jamieson hoping for more exciting cricket as Brendon McCullum returns to NZ
England face New Zealand in a two-Test series.
-
Australia
Australia T20 captain Aaron Finch retires from international cricket
The 36-year-old skippered Australia in 76 T20 internationals, more than any other men’s player.
-
England
On this day in 2017: Sir Alastair Cook steps down as England Test captain
Cook’s 59 Tests in charge made him the nation’s longest-serving captain at the time.