Former England captain Michael Vaughan says veteran James Anderson should bow out of Test cricket in the fifth Ashes Test in Hobart.
Writing in a column for The Telegraph, Vaughan said that it was time for captain Joe Root to manage the departure of the man who has snared 640 Test wickets in his storied career.
“England cannot move on, be a world force with Anderson at the helm,” Vaughan wrote.
“I love watching Jimmy bowl. He is a poet with the ball in hand. He could still be England’s best bowler for another two years.
“Just because you can still perform does not mean you should keep going on and on. The team has to evolve.
“It is not about sacking Jimmy. It is about what is right for English cricket.”
Vaughan compared Anderson to Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath who walked away from Test cricket while still firing as Test bowlers.
“Warne and Glenn McGrath retired with one or two years of high level cricket still left in them,” wrote Vaughan. “Just because you can still perform does not mean you should keep going on and on.
“Eke out every ounce of knowledge from Jimmy about how to bowl at this level and keep him involved but bowlers like Saqib Mahmood and Olly Stone need a run in the team.
{“There will be around 60 Tests before England play in Australia again. Are we going to come back here and win with guys who have played only five or 10 Tests? No.”
Boland in doubt after fall
Australia’s fairytale fast man Scott Boland is battling to be fit to extend his incredible run in Hobart.
The 32-year-old left the field in Sydney after a fall and needed painkillers to continue playing.
The Age reports that he is in doubt for Hobart with team staff looking to manage loads.
Billings’ mercy dash
After several weeks shining for Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash, Sam Billings was expecting to be heading for the Caribbean via London to play white-ball cricket for England.
Instead he was told to head south after Thunder’s victory over Perth Scorchers at the Gold Coast on Thursday and answer an SOS from England’s Test team.
With wicketkeeper Jos Buttler ruled out of next week’s series finale in Hobart due to a fractured finger and Jonny Bairstow also carrying a thumb injury, Billings looks set to pick up the gloves and go straight from the Twenty20 circuit into the Test arena.
With flights deemed too risky given Australia’s rising Covid-19 caseload, he first had to complete a 12-hour journey from the Gold Coast. En route he tweeted ‘Just an observation…Australia is a realyyyyy big place!’
That was followed by a strict quarantine and testing process at England’s Sydney base which meant he followed the nail-biting conclusion to England’s fourth Test draw on his hotel television.
“It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster. I was probably 90 minutes to two hours away from getting on that plane back to the UK. It all happened pretty quickly,” he said.
“I went to the airport, got the rental car and cracked on, basically. It’s been a bit of a whirlwind. For the first 24 hours I hadn’t heard anything or seen anyone, I’m sure I’ll find out later this week if I’m playing.
“I’m just really looking forward to it. Like any side I go into, I will try to make a positive impact on and off the field, and add to any environment I am put into. We will have to wait and see if that Test cap does come.”
Ollie Pope’s solid showing as a substitute keeper at the SCG – he took four catches after being thrust into the role at short notice – means Billings is not guaranteed a game on Thursday but if he does get the nod, the Kent player will not be daunted.
He has played more short-form cricket in the past few years, managing just four outings for Kent in last year’s LV= Insurance County Championship – but at the age of 30 he has more than a decade of first-class experience under his belt.
Add in 58 limited-overs internationals and his recent work on Australian pitches in the BBL and he feels capable of a smooth transition to the five-day game.
“Regardless of the format, regardless of circumstances, with experience and maturity you can get a sense of where your game is at,” he said.
“I’ve been playing and scoring runs. I’m 100 per cent ready if required. It doesn’t really matter what format it is, it’s more about rhythm, confidence and mindset. As a player you look where your opportunities may lie to progress your career…for me it has always been with the white-ball side so far.
“But this has been on the radar, it’s something I’ve really wanted to do.”
‘I hope he doesn’t forget it’
Former England spinner Monty Panesar has urged Jonny Bairstow to kick on from his excellent performance in Sydney.
“I think England will be buoyant about the whole display of how they showed the fight and resilience, it was formidable to see the likes of Johnny Bairstow showing the counter attacking nature as a batsmen,” said Panesar.
“I hope Bairstow now thinks that’s who he is as a batsmen, if he’s looking to save a Test match or tough conditions that mentality of putting the pressure onto the bowlers.
“It could just be in good positions, you bowl a bad ball and I’m gonna put that away. I think that’s Bairstow’s template for test cricket, he’s got a lot of character and put’s a lot of pressure back on bowlers. I hope he doesn’t forget now, that’s Johnny Bairstow.
“Even the character shown by Ben Stokes, he’s injured but that was really good to see.
Let’s be honest there a few structural and systematically within English cricket, at least when Chris Silverwood joins the team at Hobart he will know that it’s a slightly different environment. I would say this is more of a victory for England after they’ve been absolutely thrashed over the last few test matches.”
ken gargett
Guest
what is clueless is your understanding of cricket, [proved post after post.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Taylor averaged 50 whilst not scoring a century in his lean times. His demeanour was that of an affable character but a steely determination. Tactically a brilliant capt and a leader of men (there were no women in the side) ——– Chappelli engendered good team relations, valued players and had the team. But more importantly scored runs on minefields where even his brother failed; often the lone hand. Added to this was his ability to make the right bowling and field changes; both actions accruing wickets. I’d say his captaincy took more wickets, per test, than any other Aussie captain. He also won more matches without the Lillee Thommo combo than with them. He had an immediate impact, probably the most startling of any team, upon appointment. It was passed on from his grandfather, Vic, who enjoyed the same team repartee. When Lillee was on his way back from his back injury he approached Chappelli at a SA v WA game, at drinks that night, saying he couldn’t come back as a fast bowler. Chappelli said that’s alright Dennis, we don’t need medium pacers. Dennis took the cue and the rest is history. He also averaged 50 as captain. ——- Only Benaud could be spoken of in the same light. I also rate Tugga and Border rounding out the best 5 Test Captains post WW2.
Mike
Guest
Generally right Rowdy but 3 players? But what do you do in cases like Mike Brearley and Mark Taylor? Taylor was great until it got to the point where his own form was so bad that being captain is what kept him in the team. Any other player would've been dropped, his form was so bad, for so long. Brearley was a very poor batsman (by test standards) who never earned his place in the team as a player at any point of his career. His "degree in relationships" (as somebody said) is what kept him in the team. However, they were always essentially playing a batsman short. His batting record is virtually the same as Mitchell Starc! For me, it is essential that a captain earn and maintain his position in the team. That is the first rule of being a captain. You don't have to be the best like Cummins or Bradman, but you have to earn your keep as an individual first otherwise other players have to cover for your deficiencies. Ian Chappell was a great captain but not the best player in the team. His brother was a significantly better batsman, Lillee was an all-time great, Walters was a superior batsman, Thommo in his prime was a much bigger match winner, and Marsh was at least his equivalent. It was crucial for him to maintain his personal performance to justify him having the position that then enabled him to use his captaincy skills.
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
HR - That's exactly right. They have enough bowlers to include one other (like Stone). Sam Curran also deserves more time. Not quick but young and has potential. By his 23rd Test (last year) he averaged 26 with the bat and 35 with the ball vs after same number of games, Stokes 33 and 38, and Broad 29 and 36. He could certainly take up some of the batting slack if/when they drop Buttler for Foakes.
Bill Murray
Roar Rookie
There's too much emphasis placed on player input when it comes to training / coaching. Langer has shown that he's an expert coach who isnt beholden to players feelings. Can you imagine Barassi adjusting his methods so that he didnt offend the players? On another matter. When will the selectors realise that they chose incorrectly when selecting the wicketkeeper.? There's daylight between Inglis and Carey! Carey appears to be a thoroughly amiable chap but his keeping in Sydney was sub standard. Inglis has to be chosen in Hobart.
Mike
Guest
Yes, I believe averages are still a strong way to determine a batsman or bowler's worth despite what some people say. Continual generations of very intelligent cricket analysts and selectors have used them as a strong guide and indicator of a player's real worth. Not a perfect indicator but the longer a career is, the more anomalies tend to be ironed out and averages become relevant. Totals are often a deceptive way to approach things. For example, David Boon and Don Bradman were both fine no. 3s for Australia (an under statement on the second person there!). Boon scored 7422 test runs to Bradman's 6996. Does this mean Boon was slightly better, or at least equal to, Bradman as a batsman? Their totals are quite similar and both batted in the same position for the "zenith" of their careers. We know this is a ridiculous suggestion (as Boon himself would concede). Don played 52 tests to Boon's 107 and averaged more than twice Boon per innings. Don averaged 134 runs per test and Boon averaged 69. Similarly, when comparing Anderson to Lillee - both opening bowlers for their country. Anderson's total wickets 640 to Lillee's 355. Wow! That's a huge difference. Nearly 300 test wickets. Surely Anderson is so much better than Lillee was. Well that's silly stuff - imo. Anderson has played 169 tests to get to that total - admittedly at the excellent average of 26.6 per wicket. Lillee played 70 tests at the better 23.9 per wicket. The real worth of the two bowlers is shown by the average wickets taken per match. Anderson is at 3.78 (that's not even as good as Merv Hughes - 4.0 per test). Lillee took 5.1 wickets per test. Anderson's rate would give him just 264 wickets from 70 tests. Lillee's rate would give him 861 wickets from 169 tests - a massive 221 wickets more than Jimmy. So I believe Jimmy's major asset has been longevity. His away from home stats have always been quite poor and compensated largely by his at home stats. Perhaps a similar career to Warner in that regard. My view is that Anderson's major asset of longevity is becoming a burden as his stats will not improve. especially his away figures, which will in all likelihood decline further. His style of bowling, as Mark Taylor noted, seems to be more about economy now with a reluctance to attack for fear of being hit and expensive. His goals seem to be more about his own figures and total of wickets which is actually not in the best interests of the team. His longevity is keeping him hanging around when perhaps it is to the detriment of the team and their goals. I'm reminded of Tendulkar's path where at the end of his career his powers waned but he kept hanging on to get his century tally to a ground breaking point. The India fans became more concerned with that, than the fortunes of team India!
Peter Farrar
Roar Pro
I wouldn't want to be the one telling Anderson he won't play Hobart. Wouldn't that deprive him of a chance to play what could be his final ashes test in Australia? Plus the history of being the first in Hobart? Of course there's also the small matter of his having opportunity to add to the incredible number of wickets he's taken. Who knows, he may even play a pivotal role in this test.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
don deflecting from his inaccurate knowledge pre scg test
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Wood, 4th Test, 3/141. He's in trouble when the Aussies work him out then!
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Write properly.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
So you'd prefer 20/20? :shocked:
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Great captains are almost as rare as great spinners. Great captains are worth 3 players.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Don Freo the Thesaurus roams the south west of Australia seeking grammarless herbivores. Great starter for a film in which Christian Bale and Ana de Alma's play the leads and the setting is Hoover's days in the Goldfields where ....
Pierro
Roar Rookie
don deflecting as usual . no evidence . hates being proven wrong and was proven wrong on his comments pre scg test selection and related player averages predicting outcomes and performance yet again .
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Coco take from it what you will. no time but basically I’ve been pretty spot on most of time this series . to the point now khawaja and head are both worthy of selection at same time . moreover , starc and Lyon didn’t have the impact that was needed at scg as I anticipated , two years running , due to their averages . some just don’t like the form analysis being correct and fall back to having a go at sentence construction instead of facts when they were off mark
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
So that's 2 attempts at an excuse. Just do it properly.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Don Freo
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
It takes no more time.
Son of Coco
Guest
Pierro It's hard to take you seriously when you don't put in the basic effort to be taken seriously. Basic editing isn't hard, and trying to compare your inability to construct a legible sentence with Australia being a nanny state only ensures people are going to respect your opinions less.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Yea but they may have considered resting him if Richo was fit