The Ashes 2019: Jimmy Anderson insists he’ll be ready to face Aussie batsmen in Birmingham
He may not be fit to face Ireland in an Ashes precursor but Jimmy Anderson insists a calf strain won’t deny him the chance of adding to his 104 Aussie scalps in Birmingham next week.
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Australia’s traditional Ashes tormentor Jimmy Anderson has declared his full intention to play in the first Test but will hit the massive series first up after a month out of the game.
The 36-year-old swing king, who has taken 104 Aussie scalps among his English record 575 Test wickets, is back bowling after suffering a calf injury last month.
He was included in England’s 13-man squad for the one-off Test against Ireland, which begins on Wednesday, but his limited action at training on Monday wasn’t enough to convince selectors.
Anderson has been ruled out of the four-day game and will face a cricket return in the cauldron of the first Ashes Test at Birmingham having not played since he took two wickets for Lancashire in a match which finished on June 30.
Prior to that Anderson, who wasn’t part of England’s World Cup campaign, was putting together a strong form line, with 24 wickets in five county matches. He also played five one-day games for Lancashire.
When he joined his national teammates this week before the Test at Lords, Anderson said he was over his injury, but didn’t know when he would be ready to play.
“At the moment I feel good. I will keep bowling and we will monitor it,” he told the BBC.
“If it comes to Wednesday and I'm fit to play then great, but if not I will work towards being fit for the Ashes."
England has already ruled out World Cup hero Jofra Archer from at least the first Test after his big tournament bowling load lead to a slight side strain.
And Mark Wood might not be available until the fourth Test after he suffered a more serious side strain during the World Cup final.
Originally published as The Ashes 2019: Jimmy Anderson insists he’ll be ready to face Aussie batsmen in Birmingham
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