Jimmy Anderson has moved closer to an England return for Thursday’s second Test with India in Visakhapatnam following the news that his fellow seamer Chris Woakes may need to be rested because of a minor knee problem.
Anderson, England’s record Test wicket-taker, has not played a competitive match since the series with Pakistan in August because of the longstanding shoulder injury that dogged his summer but he has pushed hard to prove his fitness in the nets since arriving in India last week.
While rotation of the fast bowlers is expected this tour, the England management have reason to remain unchanged this week following an impressive performance in the drawn first Test in Rajkot. However Woakes, whose match figures of one for 63 did not truly reflect the skill and control with which he bowled, has since reported some discomfort and may not be risked so early in the series.
Alastair Cook opted against naming his team before their final pre-match net session in light of this but the captain conceded Woakes’s problem, which comes off the back of playing all three Tests this winter, has strengthened the case for Anderson’s inclusion, or that of one of the reserve seamers, Steven Finn and Jake Ball.
“The way the 11 guys played in the last game was outstanding, so it’s whether you look at rotation or stick with the team,” said Cook. “Woakes is the one we are looking at and the number of overs he’s bowled in the last six weeks. He bowled outstandingly well in the last Test.
“It’s just a bowling niggle and nothing different from normal wear and tear and he would be fine to play. But [Anderson] is the question we have to ask ourselves. He’s come over and bowled well in the nets and he’s confident.
“He hasn’t got miles in his legs, though, and you are weighing that up against seamers who have been with us all winter and Woakes as well. Hindsight on this one will be easy in five days’ time. But at the moment it is still going through our heads what to do.”
India are certain to make at least one change to their team, with the opener KL Rahul having returned to fitness following a hamstring problem. Virat Kohli confirmed the right-hander is their first choice and thus Gautam Gambhir, who struggled in the first Test, will make way.
“We were very clear in our heads that as soon as KL Rahul is fit, we will call him back into the squad. We are actually glad that he is back into the side,” said Kohli, who went on to hint that the off-spinner Jayant Yadav may be in line for a debut in light of Amit Mishra’s lack of threat in Rajkot.
