Former England skipper Nasser Hussain has batted for the inclusion of veteran fast bowler James Anderson for the second Ashes Test against Australia, which will be played at Adelaide.
Hussain stated that he will include James Anderson in the team’s final XI because of the swing factor.
Anderson was surprisingly not included in the first Test match which Australia went on to win by nine wickets at the Gabba, Brisbane. However, it was reported that Anderson had a calf issue and the team management wanted to manage his workload for the rest of the series.
Furthermore, the tourists surprisingly decided to also drop Stuart Broad. Anderson and Broad have all the experience under their bag and it was a surprising move from the visitors.
“People will say bring Stuart Broad and James Anderson back in but the bowlers that have been bowling in this Test have now got overs in their legs, so they are the best ones physically to go and play the next one.
“Broad and Anderson haven’t bowled in anger in a match for months now and with their ageing bodies, can you get them both in? I’d definitely go with Anderson for the swing,” Hussain wrote in his column for Sky Sports.
It is not going to be easy for England to bounce back in the series as the odds are tilted against them. However, Hussain feels the Joe Root-led should stay in a positive state of mind to bounce in the series as the pink-ball Test is their best bet to come back in the five-match series.
“How England are psychologically is key now. Some fans will be thinking ‘here we go again, we are going to lose 5-0’. We have lost 10 of our last 11 games in Australia with the other one being a draw.
“But we cannot have England thinking here we go again. They are going to Adelaide, a pink-ball Test. It is their best chance to get back into the series so be positive and think we can get back into the series,” Hussain added.
The second Test match between Australia and England will be played at Adelaide from December 16.