England find themselves in a peculiar position. There are understandably on a high after crushing Australia inside three days at Birmingham to take a 2-1 lead in the Ashes.
Their eight-wicket win was beautifully set up by pace spearhead James Anderson whose six wicket haul in the first innings also ended a run of three outing without a single scalp.
But with the high of an Ashes win came the news that Anderson had picked up a side injury while bowling at Edgbaston.
The 33-year-old’s form in the past season had been indifferent but the third Test showing had raised hopes that England would be able to put an end to a sensational inconsistent run that has seen them win four Tests and lose three in the last seven Tests, on an alternating basis.
They can still do so in the fourth Test at Nottingham, which starts today, but their task has been made a bit more difficult. They will undoubtedly miss the experience of the 413-wicket veteran but they have some top quicks to rely upon.
The rise of Steven Finn has come at just the right moment for Alastair Cook’s team as he was by far the quickest in the third Test and shook the Aussies with his line and late swing. His eight wickets in the match were a result of relent- less pressure coupled with pace and precision.
The bigger role, however, has to be played by Stuart Broad who now is the leader of the pack.
The Nottingham fast bowler has quietly gone about his business this Ashes, picking up 12 wickets from three Tests at a commendable average of just over 27. Those are very good numbers and prove he has been consistent across all three games.
Broad was on the mark in the victorious Cardiff and Birmingham Tests but even at Lord’s, where the Aussies blew the hosts away by 405 runs, Broad held his own. In Australia’s big first innings total of 566 for eight, the right armer had excellent figures of 4-83 from 27 overs and the visitors found it difficult to attack him.
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With Anderson unavailable, at least for the fourth Test, it’s up to Broad to lead the England attack and looking at his performances so far, he is more than capable of doing it. Anderson is still the No 1 bowler in England but Broad is not too far behind. In fact, they boast similar numbers.
Jimmy has 413 wickets from 107 Tests at an average of 29.38 and a strike rate of 57.6 (balls per wicket). Broad is on 299 from 82 Tests with an average of 29.67 and strike rate of 57.6.
England, therefore, should not worry too much about playing without Anderson. And moreover, Broad is also capable of scoring handy runs down the order – as he did in the crucial first innings of the third Test when the team was on 190-7.
The fourth Test will also give England a glimpse into the future – life without Anderson. Injuries to fast bowlers at the age of 33 take that much longer to heal and one can’t be sure whether the bowler will be the same on return.
Surely the management will be keeping its fingers crossed because any bowler who comes in for Anderson will not be nearly as consistent or dependable.
However, it’s a golden opportunity for Cook to chart a new path with Broad and Finn at the helm of affairs and supported by the likes of Ben Stokes and Mark Wood.
What the hosts need to be careful about is their choice for the third seamer because according to reports even though Wood has been pencilled in to start, he is not 100 per cent fit.
He bowled in two sessions in the lead-up to the fourth Test after taking a painkilling injection to his left ankle. The Durham quick has anyhow not been at his best and the England management must tread carefully.
If he is anything less than fully fit, Cook should go for the more reliable Liam Plunkett or even untested left-arm quick Mark Footitt. Because even though Broad is good, he won’t be as incisive if a quick breaks down in the middle of the match for the second successive game.
The pressure will be on England in the absence of Anderson, there is no doubt about it. But it’s also a chance for Broad to inspire the English attack with the ball in hand. After all, there is an Ashes urn to be won.
