Yesterday was the first day of The Ashes test series and England gambled and lost. The selectors and medical staff passed James Anderson as fit and he took to the field. He has been struggling with his calf muscle and passed a fitness test. There are more questions to what kind of fitness test he passed.
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Calf issues on July 2nd and it hasn't healed correctly as it re occurred yesterday morning again. This has put his team in trouble and is a huge handicap.
He didn't last long and has now put his team in a vulnerable position. Surely he could feel it wasn't right and reminds me of Philander at the World Cup in New Zealand 4 years ago when he was selected 10 days after a hamstring injury.He only bowled a few balls before leaving the field holding his hamstring.
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James Anderson should have known it wasn't quite right. This is before the start of play with the physio.
Everything started off well for him bowling 4 overs for 1 run and then he was struggling. He went off the field for treatment and came back and then disappeared. At this point Australia were on the rack and looked like it didn't really matter. Australia fought back though and ground out a score they should never have been able to get. Short of one bowler England were wilting and were exceptionally lucky Australia lost wickets regularly.
Anderson went to hospital and had scans and the ECB wouldn't release the results. The reasoning is that if it is the same issue then no replacement is allowed on the field in his place as it was an existing injury. By not releasing the information it is kind of suspicious and tells it's own story.
Australia didn't make a great score, but it was acceptable from where they were at 122/8 and ending up on 284. If England can get a lead they have a chance as England has a limited attack without Anderson. Tomorrow will be interesting as the match is still finally poised and too early to say who holds the advantage. My money is on Australia even at this early stage as missing a bowler is huge.
Broad and Woakes with Stokes to back it up doesn't exactly sound like a winning bowling unit. Moeen Ali is alright as a spinner but I wouldn't call him a top bowler. The second innings will be a grind if they don't get early wickets and Australia now know they are a bowler light and a fielder short so they will take their time.