England’s pace veteran James Anderson to set to join Sachin Tendulkar and Steve Waugh in the elite club. Anderson will play his 150th Test match for England when his team will take on South Africa in the Boxing day Test match. The experienced seamer is all set to make a comeback after recovering from the injury. Anderson will become the ninth player in the Test history to play 150 Test matches.
Meanwhile, there are doubts over the selection of Stuart Broad and Jofra Archer as both of them are down with flu. In fact, England is expected to play with an all-out pace attack given all the pacers are fit to play. However, that situation can change based on the availability of Ben Stokes.
Anderson is one of England’s great.
Stokes’ father was admitted to the hospital and his current situation is critical. The all-rounders’ father is admitted to a hospital in Johanessburg.
On the other hand, James Anderson will join the likes of Jacques Kallis and Rahul Dravid who have played 150 Test matches for their teams. England skipper Joe Root confirmed that Anderson is ready to go and he is looking in a good rhythm.
“He’s looking as good as I’ve ever seen him,” said captain Joe Root.
James Anderson had come to South Africa before the rest of his teammates to attend a fast bowling camp. Anderson hasn’t played an international match for a long time and he would look to hit the ground running. The veteran last played in the Ashes for England.
“It feels like a long time since I’ve played a competitive game so to get some overs … was very pleasing,” Anderson told reporters.
“There was a bit of rust but that’s to be expected having not played for four or five months. I’m just happy to be back out there.”
Meanwhile, James Anderson had made his Test debut when he was just 20 years old. The swing master is still going strong at 37 and feels there is still some fuel left in the tank.
“I still want to do it, that’s part of the reason I worked so hard to get back,” he added.
“It’s something I love and I still feel I’ve got something to offer, so that hunger and desire to get back is still very much there.
James Anderson is England’s most successful Test bowler as he has scalped 575 wickets. South Africa and England will play the first Test match at Centurion from December 26.