Should Anderson return for Manchester?

One wicket from 20 overs against Durham's second 11?
Doesn't sound ready to face Smith and co to me.

yes, as long as he breaks down again

Doesn't this belong in the 4th Test thread?

Why on earth are we even considering picking a bowler with 575 test wickets and 30 first class wickets this season at a tad over 9 per wicket?

I don't know, I think we should see how he goes in a T20 first.

He’s definitely part of our best XI, though I would worry about him breaking down again and leaving us a bowler short... he’s 37, been injured twice this season, and without a lot of recent bowling behind him. But I guess it’s a gamble we have to take.

beamer wrote:He’s definitely part of our best XI, though I would worry about him breaking down again and leaving us a bowler short... he’s 37, been injured twice this season, and without a lot of recent bowling behind him. But I guess it’s a gamble we have to take.

Well it'll make a change beams, and add some balance to the team.

After all, we've played the last dozen or more tests with between one and four batsmen short ....

Growler wrote:

beamer wrote:He’s definitely part of our best XI, though I would worry about him breaking down again and leaving us a bowler short... he’s 37, been injured twice this season, and without a lot of recent bowling behind him. But I guess it’s a gamble we have to take.

Well it'll make a change beams, and add some balance to the team.

After all, we've played the last dozen or more tests with between one and four batsmen short ....

We could play Curran (or retain Woakes) instead of Roy as extra insurance for Jimmy’s fitness, given they would get more runs anyway.

Quite.

It's an interesting question, from Ronnie even.


It may seem obvious to rush Jim back into the fray. And average figures in a Second XI are neither here nor there. It's a fitness test.

But:

Only one Second XI match, is more the point.

And after the fiasco in the First Test, fitness must be proved, not hoped-for, precarious.

The other dimension is that IIRC - strangely - Anderson's "home ground" is not one of his happiest Test arenas.

Nevertheless, PROVIDED properly tested and proved (genuinely, certainly) fit this time, it's hard to argue against his inclusion.

And can we afford to be cautious when there’s a series to win? Hopefully he passes the test and is potentially in line for a glorious finale at the Oval (though NZ, SA and 600 may yet tempt him on).

beamer wrote:

Growler wrote:

beamer wrote:He’s definitely part of our best XI, though I would worry about him breaking down again and leaving us a bowler short... he’s 37, been injured twice this season, and without a lot of recent bowling behind him. But I guess it’s a gamble we have to take.

Well it'll make a change beams, and add some balance to the team.

After all, we've played the last dozen or more tests with between one and four batsmen short ....

We could play Curran (or retain Woakes) instead of Roy as extra insurance for Jimmy’s fitness, given they would get more runs anyway.

Isn't Woakes nursing a knee injury? Not only that, this batch if Readers is not swinging as much as last year's, so you would have to think that Curran would be easy prey for the Aussie batsmen.

Seeing it's Old Trafford, 2 spinners anyone?

Well, Moeen smashed a few in a T20 last week, so will probably be recalled anyway.

skully wrote:Doesn't this belong in the 4th Test thread?

Well, yes and no.

It's a time-dishonoured tradition on Bails to pick out a specific subtopic for discussion on another thread.

To each their own.

He’s crocked, apparently.

I wonder if Edgbaston might remain as his last hurrah.

May just be the case.

So it appears that Jimmy has done his calf again. Think he has played his last Ashes test.

On reflection, having held off opinion until all the facts were in, I think he shouldn't return for Manchester.

Well, better it happens now than during the match I suppose.

If this is the end of the road, then thanks, Jimmy... one of the greats of English cricket by any measure. Shame he didn’t get a 150th Test in front of a home crowd.

For City maybe

United are more in need... they’ve just let a veteran member of their strike force go.