James Anderson could yet feature in the Ashes series finale after being included in a 14-man England squad named on Sunday for this month’s fifth Test at The Oval.
Anderson, England’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker, had to miss the fourth match of the series at Trent Bridge with a side strain.
But England still crushed Australia in Nottingham take an unassailable 3-1 lead, with just the match at The Oval, starting on August 20, to come.
When Anderson injured himself in Birmingham, there were fears he might be sidelined from the remainder of the series.
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And with England now in an unbeatable position in the series, it has been argued that they don’t need to risk their prize asset in a ‘dead’ match.
It was a point acknowledged by England national selector James Whitaker who said that Anderson, who has replaced uncapped left-arm seamer Mark Footitt in the squad, would not be rushed back into the side.
“James Anderson is continuing to improve and, with 10 days to go before the Test, may be able to play a part at the Oval – although with the series won, we will not be taking any chances given the cricket we have in the coming months,” Whitaker said in an England and Wales Cricket Board statement.
