James Anderson doesn’t like taking a break from England matches but admits it is in his best interests to stand aside from international duty before the return Ashes series in Australia.
Anderson was one of several key players from the England side that recently wrapped up a 3-0 Ashes series win on home soil to be left out of the squad for the forthcoming five-match one-day international series against Australia.
England begin preparations for their latest encounter against Australia with a one-day international away to Ireland on Tuesday where they will be without regular captain Alastair Cook, fellow top-order batsman Ian Bell, seamers Anderson and Stuart Broad as well as first-choice spinner Graeme Swann.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan has called for spectators who bought tickets in advance to receive something of a refund given England are resting so many star names ahead of the return Ashes, which start with the first Test in Brisbane in November.
But the 31-year-old Anderson, while eager to lead England’s attack whenever he can, is also thankful for a break after a gruelling Test series against Australia.
“An Ashes series is emotionally and physically draining — you do feel it,” he said on Monday at a sponsor’s event.
“There are not many five-Test series any more and with a couple of back-to-back Tests in there as well you feel the aches and pains and it takes a lot out of you emotionally,” added Anderson, who during the course of the Ashes moved into second place behind Ian Botham in England’s all-time list of leading Test wicket-takers.
“It gets to a point where you just want to let things soak in, take everything in and have a rest.
“Cricketers don’t like missing cricket no matter what form of the game — it is quite frustrating to miss cricket.
“But there is a window here for the guys that have been left out to get a good rest and prepare for a tough winter.”
And the fact his fellow seamer Tim Bresnan missed the fifth and final Test at The Oval with a back injury meant Anderson understood exactly why he was being spared one-day duty against Australia.
“We’ve got a huge winter ahead of us,” he said.
“I’m sure the selectors considered all their options (but) with Tim Bresnan being injured we can’t really afford any more of our seamers getting hurt.
“I think that is why Stuart and I have been rested. Graeme Swann has obviously bowled a lot of overs this summer and with his recent injury problems with his elbow I think it is probably right to give him a rest.
“The way it is right now that is in our best interests.”
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.
Harshal Patel was not a happy man!
David Lord has been remembered as an icon of Australian sports journalism following his death, aged 84. The renowned writer and broadcaster was an…
Sign the man up for a contract next season!
RCB have suffered a massive HEAD-ACHE after Travis Head smashed the fastest century by an SRH player in just 39 balls, as they amassed…
A brutal century by Travis Head has blasted Sunrisers Hyderabad back into the Indian Premier League play-off places in another match for bowlers to…
Two Aussies abroad have endured wildly different fortunes as Jake Fraser-McGurk joined the world stage with a thrilling first IPL half century, but Scott…
