James Anderson Ruled Out Of The First Ashes 2021-22 Test: While cricket fans are waiting desperately for the Ashes series to begin, a new from England camp has stirred a huge debate in the cricketing world. Earlier today, England announced that their veteran fast bowler James Anderson, who is also their leading wicket-taker in Test cricket, will not play in the opening Test of Ashes 2021-22.
Initially, many fans and pundits thought that James Anderson might have picked up an injury, but the statement issued by the England Cricket Board (ECB) made it clear that Anderson is absolutely fit and his exclusion from England’s playing XI is a tactical move.
“Jimmy (James Anderson) is fit to play, and is not carrying an injury. With five Tests in six weeks the plan was to get him ready for the second Test in Adelaide,” the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said in a statement.
“With the limited build-up we have had so far on the tour, both him and the management didn’t want to take the risk of him playing after what had happened in 2019 at Edgbaston, when he broke down on the first morning,” the statement read.
As per ECB’s press-release, they have rested James Anderson because he hasn’t had too much of bowling practice leading to the Ashes series and the management is worried that he might pick up an injury, juts like he did in the 2019 Edgbaston Test.
This is a very well-thought decision by the ECB because James Anderson hasn’t been fully fit in the recent past, and, interestingly, the Ashes 2021-22 opener will be the fifth consecutive Ashes Test he will miss due to lack of fitness/injury.
OUR VIEW: It seems like a very good decision by the ECB to not risk James Anderson by playing him without too much practice. It is going to be a very long series and if Anderson can regain his fitness before the second match and England can rotate their other fast bowlers around, it will enhance Jimmy’s chances of playing more matches in the all-important Ashes 2021-22 series.
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