England fast bowler James Anderson ruled out of final Ashes cricket test
He's not going to make it, says captain Alastair Cook in lead-up to clash against Australia at the Oval
England fast bowler James Anderson, struggling to recover from a side strain, will not play in the final Ashes cricket test against Australia starting at The Oval on Thursday, captain Alastair Cook said.
The 33-year-old, England’s leading test wicket taker, missed the fourth match at Trent Bridge which the hosts won by an innings and 78 runs to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series.
He’s gutted about it. He’s made really good progress from where he was at Edgbaston but this is a week or so too soon
“Unfortunately, he’s not going to make it,” Cook said. “He’s gutted about it. He’s made really good progress from where he was at Edgbaston but this is a week or so too soon.
“He bowled in the nets but at about 60 to 70 per cent and that’s not how you go into a game. The medical team have been brilliant with him but he’s still about a week away.”
Mark Wood is likely to keep his place in the team in a four-man pace attack with Stuart Broad, Steven Finn and Ben Stokes, although England could be tempted to play leg-spinner Adil Rashid.
He could be a vital weapon in England’s next series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates but Cook said the priority was to win the Ashes 4-1.
