Time to Give Jimmy Anderson a Game Off

 

 

Ashes 2013

 

The Australian Hokey-Cokey is Set to Continue

 

August 8^th

 

[07:30 CEST] The Australian selectors have pulled what, in the context of this series, is a major surprise by making just one minor change in their squad for the 4^th Test and suggesting that the batting will be unchanged. The one change in the XII is for Ashton Agar to miss out – he was most unlikely to play at Chester-le-Street anyway given its seaming pitch – with Jackson Bird taking his place. The suggestion is that Ryan Harris may be rested – in this case, genuinely rested, not dropped – and Jackson Bird would take his place. Harris was struggling a little in the 3^rd Test and, given the minimal time for rest and recuperation, it is asking a lot of him to play again. He will be far more effective in the 5^th Test for some rest.

However, it is still quite likely that the Australian selectors will make a major tactical change by moving David Warner back up to open and dropping Shane Watson down to #6. Why it would be a major admission of failure, there is a solid logic to it, although it is true that the same logic was used to suggest that Warner would be better employed coming in against tired bowlers by batting at 6.

England have an interesting choice to make. Their attack bowled a lot of overs and the seamers looked a lot less threatening than in the first two Tests. Part of that is down to Steve Smith’s three lives, but there is a case for resting a bowler and bringing in Graeme Onions, although his horrific results last winter in his few opportunities may cause the selectors to think long and hard about this. Despite his poor returns, Stuart Broad has been unlucky and, with his batting coming back to its best, his confidence must be high, Tim Bresnan has done well in his limited opportunities; it seems heretical to suggest resting Jimmy Anderson, but that may be the best option thinking to the 5^th Test and beyond. It may be though that the final place is decided only after a long and careful scrutiny of the pitch. Even though there are eight days between the 4^th and 5^th Tests but, even so, one hopes that serious thought will be given to giving Jimmy Anderson a breather if there is any doubt at all about his recovery from his massive efforts at Lords and Old Trafford.