James Anderson likely to feature against Proteas: Details here
Veteran England pacer James Anderson has been out of the side since August this year after he suffered an injury while training for the Ashes. While he will be out of action in the ongoing New Zealand tour as well, he is racing against time to be fit for the South Africa tour in December. Meanwhile, the England team management has expressed its confidence.
As per reports, Anderson has more or less recovered for the calf strain he suffered and is likely to resume training at the camp in Potchefstroom, two weeks prior to the tour. He is also likely to feature in the two warm-up ties, following which, depending on his performance, he could also be included in the side for the Boxing Day Test in Centurion.
"Jimmy is going out to Potchefstroom. We're hopeful. We think he is on track, which is great. The medical team is happy. The older you get these things to linger longer. We felt no point forcing it for this short tour," said Ashley Giles.
Giles also said that he expects South Africa to come up with a good bowling contest and are likely to prepare tracks with green tops. "I think they'll be green and they'll go for a bowler war and take us on. It's not something I'd take on with Jofra Archer and Jimmy Anderson, but it will be an exciting series," he added, reports BBC.
While Anderson prepares for his return to Test cricket, considering his performance in South Africa, it has been an average one. So far, he has played eight Tests, claiming 25 wickets at an average of 39.92, including a five-wicket haul. His best performance came during the 2009-10 tour when he claimed 16 wickets in four Tests, at an average of 34.25.
As for Anderson's records in international cricket: He has claimed the most Test wickets as a pacer: 575 He is the only seamer to have claimed 300-plus Test wickets at home. He holds the record of bowling the most deliveries in Tests. He is the first English player to claim 500 Test wickets. He holds the record of most not outs in Tests: 62
