Birmingham: England paceman James Anderson has been ruled out of next week’s fourth Test at Trent Bridge, it was announced yesterday.
Anderson, England’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker, left the field three balls into his ninth over in Australia’s second innings on the second day at Edgbaston yesterday – his 33rd birthday.
An England and Wales Cricket Board statement issued yesterday confirmed that, following an overnight assessment, he had suffered a side strain.
“Anderson will be unavailable for the fourth Test beginning on Thursday, August 6, at Trent Bridge and his availability for the final Test in the series (at The Oval on August 20) will be determined in due course,” the statement said.
Anderson, whose 413 Test wickets are an England record, took an Ashes-best six for 47 as Australia were skittled out for just 136 in the first innings at Edgbaston.
Recalled fast bowler Steven Finn, who was named the man of the match, took a Test-best six for 79 in Australia’s second innings of 265.
Later Ian Bell, with a sparkling fifty, guided England to an eight-wicket victory to put the hosts 2-1 up in the series with two matches to play.
When he saw Anderson struggle before going off the field after pulling out of his action on Thursday, England great Ian Botham said he feared the Lancastrian would miss the rest of the series.
“If it’s an intercostal, we won’t see him again in this series,” former pace bowling all-rounder Botham said on Sky Sports.
“You can’t sneeze, can’t cough, can’t laugh. You have to let it heal.”
Anderson has an especially brilliant Test record at Trent Bridge, with 53 in eight matches at an average of 19.24.
Meanwhile six of his 18 returns of five wickets or more in Test innings have come at the Nottingham ground.
He also took 10 wickets across the match in the last Ashes Test at Trent Bridge, in 2013 – one of two 10-wicket returns he has at Nottinghamshire’s headquarters.
“It’s disappointing, Jimmy’s record at Trent Bridge is brilliant. I said at the beginning of the week we had an opportunity as a squad at 1-1 do something very special in the next three games,” England captain Alastair Cook said after yesterday’s victory.
“Now it’s an opportunity for someone, whoever replaces Jimmy with the new ball to do something very special.”
England could now recall Durham fast bowler Mark Wood, who took part in the first two Ashes Tests but was ruled out with ankle trouble and replaced by Finn at Edgbaston, into their squad for the fourth Test.
Other possible replacements for Anderson include Yorkshire’s Liam Plunkett, fit-again Warwickshire seamer Chris Woakes and uncapped Derbyshire left-armer Mark Footitt.
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