After missing the second Test, Anderson raring to bowl in the pink-ball Test in Ahmedabad.
England’s experienced fast bowler James Anderson has urged the critics to look at the “bigger picture” following the massive debate over England’s rotation policy for the players.
All the teams are scheduled for a tight schedule this year, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic and keeping in mind the massive amount of cricket to be played in coming days, England brought up the rotation policy to keep the players fresh and healthy and avoid mental fatigue due to bio-bubble life.
England did not play Jonny Bairstow and Mark Wood in the first two Tests, while the first-choice keeper Jos Buttler is back home after the opening Test as a part of rotation policy and even Anderson himself missed the second Test which England lost by 317 runs against India last week.
However, Bairstow and Wook are back for the rest of two Tests of the ongoing four-match Test series against India with the third Test to be played in Ahmedabad from February 24.
As reported by the Guardian, Anderson said: “You have got to try and look at the bigger picture. The idea was if I missed that one, that would give me the best chance of being fit and firing for the pink-ball Test. I am feeling good and fresh and ready to go again if called upon.”
He further added, “It’s frustrating to an extent but I can see the bigger picture with the amount of cricket that we have got. It’s the same for all bowlers, not just me. We’ve got 17 Test matches this year and the best way of getting your best players firing for as many of those as possible is to take little rests every now and then.
It’s not a case of shielding; it’s just a case of trying to make sure you’re not wearing someone out until they completely break in half.”
Meanwhile, with Wood back in the England squad ahead of the day-night Test, Anderson is ready to bowl in tandem with Stuart Broad against India.
The experienced pacer further added, “That has definitely crossed my mind. Ideally, we would get into a position where there will be times – a crucial game potentially – when they want the experience thereof both of us and that might get called upon.”
He signed off by saying, “All we can do is when we get the nod do the best for the team, try and stay in as good shape as possible, stay as fit as possible and eventually whether it’s in the summer or the back end of the year hopefully we will get the chance to play again together.”
(With PTI Inputs)