Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Joe Root backs James Anderson to make amends for Manchester struggles

Written by 
Published in Cricket
Wednesday, 12 August 2020 07:55

Joe Root has backed James Anderson to recover from a disappointing performance in Manchester and confirmed that he will play in the second Test against Pakistan at the Ageas Bowl on Thursday.

Anderson returned match figures of 1 for 97 at Emirates Old Trafford, saying on Monday that he had "not bowled very well" and "felt out of rhythm" during the first Test. Over the course of the summer, he has taken six wickets in three Tests at an average of 41.16.

And while Anderson dismissed speculation that his retirement is imminent, he admitted: "If I keep bowling the way I did this week, the opportunity to retire will be taken out of my hands - it will be a selection issue."

But in his pre-match press conference, Root said that it would be "very silly for us to write someone like Jimmy off," and said that he expected "to see the best of him again very soon".

"To question Jimmy's ability and his record - do that at your own peril," Root said. "There's a reason he's got so many wickets over such a long period of time: it's because he's a consistent performer. I don't think it'll be long until he's back in the wickets big time.

"I think it would be very silly for us to write someone like Jimmy off. He's still as dedicated as ever, he's working very hard at his game, and looking very good in practice. I don't think it'll be long before he's got another five-for to his name."

Root said that he had sat down with Anderson during the first Test, and that getting his concerns about his form with the ball off his chest had been helpful.

"It just shows that even the greats of the game have those days where it doesn't always come naturally, where it doesn't always feel like the easiest game in the world and you know it can be a real struggle sometimes," Root said. "That's the way it goes and I feel with Jimmy we know it won't be long before he's back at the top and at the peak of his powers and I'm very much looking forward to seeing him perform this week.

"Sometimes it's very easy just to look at the statistics and not have a more broad view on how things are actually going for you. Sometimes you create pressure and wickets come at the other end and you build a partnership that way.

"There have been occasions this summer when that's been the case for Jimmy. Wouldn't you give him the opportunity [to put things right] with almost 600 Test wickets under his belt?"

England named a 14-man squad for the second Test, and will make at least one change to the side that won in Manchester. Ben Stokes will be missing the final two Tests due to family reasons, with Zak Crawley set to slot back in at No. 3 and Root shifting down to his preferred No. 4 role.

Sussex seamer Ollie Robinson has been included in the squad for the second time this summer, but appears unlikely to play. Root confirmed that Mark Wood has been suffering from "a knock" in recent weeks, and that England needed to make sure he was "absolutely 100%" before picking him, but said that he had bowled with "high pace" in training on Wednesday.

Root also admitted that he would like to see Jofra Archer bowling at 90mph "for slightly longer periods of time", but said that he and the England management accepted that "it's not going to happen all the time".

"He's going to go through phases where he's not always operating up at 90mph," Root said. "All we can ask of Jofra is he keeps putting it in - keeps showing the desire, the want, the hunger to keep getting better, day in, day out.

"We know there's more to him than just bowling fast. But obviously it's a great point of difference to have when you've got someone that can bowl at those speeds. If he gets the opportunity to get out there and show everyone what he can do, [bowling fast] is one of his great assets, so it would obviously be good to see him operating there for slightly longer periods of time."

England squad for second Test: Joe Root (captain), Dom Sibley, Rory Burns, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler (wk), Chris Woakes, Sam Curran, Dom Bess, Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Mark Wood, Ollie Robinson

Read 248 times

Soccer

Napoli honor Maradona on anniversary of passing

Napoli honor Maradona on anniversary of passing

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNapoli fans and club officials paid tribute to Diego Maradona on th...

Ronaldo double bolsters Al Nassr's ACL place

Ronaldo double bolsters Al Nassr's ACL place

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCristiano Ronaldo netted a pair of goals in Al Nassr's Asian Champi...

Raya warns Arsenal of 'in-form' Gyökeres' threat

Raya warns Arsenal of 'in-form' Gyökeres' threat

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsDavid Raya has warned his Arsenal teammates that Sporting CP forwar...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Morant back for Grizzlies after missing 8 games

Morant back for Grizzlies after missing 8 games

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Ja Morant was in the lineup Monday night for the...

Rockets' VanVleet hit with $50K fine for tirade

Rockets' VanVleet hit with $50K fine for tirade

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsRockets guard Fred VanVleet was fined $50,000 by the NBA on Monday...

Baseball

Ex-big leaguer Chirinos joins O's as bench coach

Ex-big leaguer Chirinos joins O's as bench coach

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsBALTIMORE -- Robinson Chirinos replaced Fredi González on Monday as...

MLB alters Rays' schedule; 69 of last 103 on road

MLB alters Rays' schedule; 69 of last 103 on road

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Major League Baseball switched a pair of series involvi...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated