James Anderson, England”s leading wicket-taker in Tests, sustained a recurrence of tightness in his right calf during the first day of the 1st Ashes Test at Edgbaston. The 37-year-old was “distraught” as explained by his colleague Stuart Broad.
Anderson missed the one-off Test match against Ireland after been sidelined for a calf muscle injury which he sustained during the County game between Lancashire and Durham on July 2.
Anderson likely to be out of action for weeks
The pacer bowled just four overs as Broad and Co. had to fill in the overs. Australia led by a sublime hundred from Steve Smith, recovered from a poor start- 122/8. The visitors finished on 284 with Smith scoring 144 out of it.
“He”s a bit distraught,” Stuart Broad said after the end of play on day one. “He came and said sorry to the bowlers. He feels like he”s let the bowling group down, which of course he hasn”t. He”s down and he”s frustrated.”
England suffer injury scare
England benched Jofra Archer– who recovered from an injury sustained during the World Cup. The management went against the idea of risking two pacers who have just nursed their respective injuries. Broad along with Chris Woakes, Ben Stokes and spinner Moeen Ali will look to share the spoils. It is highly unlikely that Anderson will be seen in action at Edgbaston. A few weeks of rest might help him recover just in time to play the rest of the games.
England openers Rory Burns and Jason Roy played out the two overs before stumps. England finished on 10/0, trailing by 274 runs with all 10 wickets in hand. Broad was the wrecker in chief as he scalped a five-wicket haul. The pacer had put Australia in the mat by removing both the openers- David Warner and Cameron Bancroft for single digits. He then came back to dismiss skipper Tim Paine and James Pattinson before disturbing Smith”s furniture as the batter went for a whack.