Sir Geoffrey Boycott has said that England should add both James Anderson and Stuart Broad in the second Ashes Test in Adelaide after their non-addition in Brisbane. The veteran has opined that their exclusion in the second Test would severely affect the visitors’ chances of winning the series as well.
Anderson and Broad, who both have 1156 wickets, didn’t play the Ashes opener in Brisbane, and England eventually lost the match by nine wickets as well. And, England wanted to keep them fresh for the pink-ball Test in Adelaide, but their decision didn’t work for them.
Writing in his column for the Telegraph, Boycott wrote:
“If both Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad don’t play (in the second Test) then what is the point of them being in the squad? The captain and coach keep telling us how good they are and how many wickets they have taken. I agree they have been magnificent for England with outstanding performances, so if they are fit they have to play.”
As far as left-arm spinner Jack Leach is concerned, the veteran said that his lack of practice in recent times cost them. Geoffrey Boycott observed:
“Jack Leach hadn’t played a Test match for nine months since early March in India. He didn’t get a game during the English summer as England played lots of seamers – and then suddenly they expected Jack to bowl well in Brisbane. No wonder the Aussies went after him, and in 13 overs he was whacked for 102 runs. I felt for the lad. Not his fault.”
“We would all like to see more of him for a lot longer” – Geoffrey Boycott on Mark Wood
Although Leach removed Marnus Labuschagne, he gave away 102 runs in the first innings as well. That means he is likely to be out of the playing XI for the second Test at the Adelaide Oval.
“On the plus side, I thought Mark Wood and Ollie Robinson were splendid. Mark was consistently fast, accurate and threatening to the opposition. My only concern was him bowling flat out every ball,” the legendary cricketer added.
“Throwing his body 100 percent into every delivery is a recipe for injury. He’s 32 during this Ashes series, and that is a fast bowler’s dangerous age for injuries. From now on, fast bowling gets tougher on the body. We would all like to see more of him for a lot longer,” Geoffrey Boycott concluded.
With James Anderson and Stuart Broad coming in for the second Test, Chris Woakes’ and Leach’s places remain under the scanner as well.
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