England Cricket Team have retained veteran pacer James Anderson for IND vs ENG Ranchi Test. There were reports of England resting Anderson considering the workload management as well as Dharamsala Test. However, with the series on the line, England have decided to trust their best bowler in the Playing XI. The 41-year-old has already bowled 73 overs in the series so far.
However, in the two-seam attack, he will lead the pace attack with Ollie Robinson by his side in the IND vs ENG Ranchi Test which starts on Feb 23.
England Playing XI
1. Zak Crawley
2. Ben Duckett
3. Ollie Pope
4. Joe Root
5. Jonny Bairstow
6. Ben Stokes (C)
7. Ben Foakes
8. Tom Hartley
9. Ollie Robinson
10. James Anderson
11. Shoaib Bashir
After the crushing 434-run loss in the 3rd Test, England head coach Brendon McCullum admitted James Anderson could be part of workload management.
“We’ve got a really good squad to pick from. We just need to work out what conditions we’re going to be confronted with, see the health of the army and then make a decision on what we go with,” Brendon McCullum said.
However, England are down 1-2 with the series on the line. Another loss will hand over the series to India, rendering the Dharamsala Test, which is likely to have seam-friendly conditions, inconsequential.
Hence, England are going with Anderson.