James Anderson a doubt for Ashes after breaking rib – reports
England pace bowler James Anderson is a serious doubt for the first two Ashes Tests in Australia after reportedly breaking a rib in training.
According to the Daily Mirror, Anderson, 28, sustained the blow during the England squad’s five-day training camp in Germany, where some drills included boxing sessions. It is claimed that Anderson fractured one of his ribs during a session, and that it could take up to two months to heal.
If that is true, then the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Lancashire-c806 paceman – the spearhead of the England attack – could miss the first two Tests Down Under – in Brisbane and Adelaide respectively – dealing a huge blow to the team, who many have installed as favourites for the Ashes following Australia’s recent poor form.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ajmal-Shahzad-c42489 will now stay with the team as Anderson attempts to regain fitness, with surprise call up Chris Tremlett another option for the tourists.
The news about Anderson will reopen the debate about England’s cricketers taking up different sports during training sessions, especially after both Joe Denly and Matt Prior picked up injuries during practice football matches when Australia toured last year. Many were also critical of the team’s decision to head for the “boot camp” in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Germany-c2904 in the first place.
“I would not recommend it,” said Aussie legend Shane Warne recently. “You have to be careful of injuries, [former teammate] Stuart MacGill hurt a knee in 2006 and was never the same again, and it will be testing for a few players. I am from the old school.
“If you want to gel everyone together lock them up in a pub and do not let anyone come in. Sometimes after a long summer of cricket players are better off spending time away from each other so they can recharge the batteries. Not a boot camp.”
Elsewhere there were more worries for England, as an out-of-sorts Kevin Pietersen was dismissed for a second ball duck in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757.
Playing in his second match with the Dolphins in Durban in a bid to regain form, Pietersen was trapped in front of his stumps by Titans’ bowler http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ethy-Mbhalati-c1424 on the second day of the SuperSport Series encounter.
Pietersen hasn’t scored a century for a year and a half, and made only one score of over 50 in Test cricket over the summer. He was dropped for the recent One Day series with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755.
UPDATE: The ECB have released a statement confirming that Anderson has cracked a rib, but they confirm that he will fly out to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 with the England team in two weeks' time, and they remain confident he'll be fit for selection for the first Ashes Test in Brisbane.
Tags: