Cook backs Stuart Broad to shine in absence of Anderson

Julian Guyer 07:39 06/08/2015
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Leader: Broad.

    Stuart Broad has been backed by captain Alastair Cook to lead the attack in the absence of James Anderson as England try to show they can win a major Test without their all-time leading wicket-taker.

    Anderson has been ruled out of the fourth Ashes Test at Trent Bridge, Broad’s home ground, with a side injury suffered during England’s convincing eight-wicket win over Australia in the third Test at Edgbaston last week that put them 2-1 up in the five-match series.

    That match saw Anderson take an Ashes-best six for 47 in Australia’s first innings as he again under- lined his worth to England.

    Anderson is England’s leading Test wicket taker with 413 scalps but Broad is no callow novice, with the 29-year-old having taken 299 wickets in 82 Tests.

    “I don’t think there’s been too many cases in history where a guy has 299 wickets and played 80-odd Tests and he’s waiting to lead the attack,” Cook said yesterday.

    “It’s a great moment for him in terms of his homeground and stuff. Clearly Jimmy is going to be missed, we can’t sit here and deny that. You don’t play forever and think ‘who is irreplaceable’? There’s always someone who can come in.”

    Some pundits have suggested that the loss of Anderson is comparable to the ankle trouble suffered by Glenn McGrath in 2005 when England won the Ashes by winning both the Tests the Aussie missed.

    – EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Akram plays down gunfire
    – Ashes: Finn ready to Bridge the gap in fourth Test
    – Inside Story: How the UAE aim to rebuild with youth

    “I can’t talk about McGrath as I never captained or played with him,” said Cook. “He is obviously the best seamer who played the game.

    “He was a big miss for them and Jimmy is a big miss for us – he gives you attacking options and control. But I said at the end of Edgbaston there was no point moaning about that. Injuries to fast bowlers happen.”

    Broad admits he will not be aiming to alter his game too much in Anderson’s absence.

    “That (leading the attack) doesn’t change my role particularly,” Broad said. “It will be important the bowling unit talk proactively in this game and that is what I will try and lead. That is what Jimmy and I do naturally so I will have to be a bit more conscious of that this week.”

    Broad urged England as a whole to concentrate on their own game saying undue focus on Australia had probably contributed to the hosts’ 405-run defeat in the second Test at Lord’s.

    “Cooky has made it quite clear it is all about us this week,” said Broad. “We had a great week at Cardiff (where England won the first Test by 169 runs) and, looking back, maybe in our minds was the thought that the Aussies would come back hard at us.

    “We have to just focus on what we have to do.”

    Meanwhile Durham quick Mark Wood has been earmarked to replace Anderson provided he passes a fitness test on a longstanding ankle problem. Fast bowlers Liam Plunkett and the uncapped Mark Footitt are on standby.

    “It looks really good for Woody. He seems to have come through training pretty well,” said Cook. “He’ll have a last check in the morning but, yes, we’ve got everyone to select from.” 

    Recommended