Anderson to sit out first Ashes Test

England’s most prolific ever Test wicket-taker James Anderson will not be a part of their side for the first Test match of this summer’s Ashes series at The Gabba in Brisbane. Officials have, however, maintained that his omission is not due to injury concerns but that they are instead preserving him for the second Test of the series – a day-nighter which begins next Thursday in Adelaide.

The 39-year-old missed a majority of the 2019 Ashes in England due to a calf injury that he sustained in the first Test at Edgbaston. Anderson’s future appeared dicey following the abrupt finish to his last Ashes campaign but, since then, he has played in 17 Test matches and taken 57 wickets.

The ECB have shrugged off initial suggestions that Anderson’s omission was due to a calf complaint, insisting that he is “fit to play, and is not carrying an injury.”

“He bowled at full capacity yesterday for just short of an hour and was in a good place physically. He will do the same again today at practice,” a statement from the ECB read.

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“With five Tests in six weeks the plan was to get him ready for the second Test in Adelaide … With the limited build-up we have had so far on the tour, both him and the management didn’t want to take the risk of him playing after what had happened in 2019 at Edgbaston, when he broke down on the first morning.”

The decision not to play Anderson in the opening Test match of the series appears strategic more than anything, with The Gabba historically not a happy hunting ground for the Lancashire-native. In the four Test matches that he has played in at the ground, he has managed just seven wickets at an average of over 75. Comparatively, in his four appearances at the Adelaide Oval, Anderson has taken 16 wickets at an average of 29.50.

Chris Woakes is the favourite to replace Anderson, with England expected to play without a recognised spinner.