Ashes: ECB plays down James Anderson's injury rumours; pacer rested ahead of 2nd Test

Putting an end to ongoing speculation over veteran pacer James Anderson's injury, the England Cricket Board (ECB) on Tuesday issued a clarification stating he is fully fit and he has been rested from the upcoming first Ashes Test against Australia. James Anderson was set to become just the third non-Australian to play five Tests at the Gabba, after Courtney Walsh and Daniel Vettori but the latest development seems to have disrupted those plans. Earlier, media reports suggested that Anderson has succumbed to a calf injury, but wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler shot down the rumours while clarifying that his absence was solely aimed at saving him for later matches. England vs Australia: James Anderson rested for day-night Test in Adelaide The ECB, in its official statement, said, "Jimmy is fit to play, and is not carrying an injury. With five Tests in six weeks the plan was to get him ready for the second Test in Adelaide." "With the limited build-up we have had so far on the tour, both him and the management didn't want to take the risk of him playing after what had happened in 2019 at Edgbaston, when he broke down on the first morning. He bowled at full capacity yesterday for just short of an hour and was in a good place physically. He will do the same again today at practice. He will stay with the Test group this week and work with the coaches at the Gabba rather than playing for the Lions." Buttler said, "Just with the build-up everyone has had, the guys just want to make sure everyone is perfect to go. Jimmy's not going to play but he is fit. Obviously it's a very long series and we want a guy like that to be available for as much of it as possible, so think it's a bit precautionary. He bowled well yesterday and will bowl again today." Last month, England skipper Joe Root, while praising James Anderson, said, "One thing I will say is, you look at Jimmy's record over the last couple of years, and it's got better and better and better. One thing I will say is, you look at Jimmy's record over the last couple of years, and it's got better and better and better. He might be getting older, but he's still bowling just as well, if not better," Root told cricket.com.au last month. He added, "I think it's going to be really key we look to play our best team for what's in front of us throughout the whole series, and whether conditions dictate that, whether the grounds dictate that, whether fitness dictates that, I think we're just going to have to be really smart and savvy about it. Ultimately, we want to play our best team, and Jimmy Anderson is one of the best bowlers in the world." Ashes 2021 Full Schedule 1st Test match at The Gabba, Brisbane from December 8 to December 12 2nd Test match at the Adelaide Oval, Adelaide from December 16 to December 20 3rd Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne from December 26 to December 30 4th Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney from January 5 to January 9, 2022 5th Test match at the Optus Stadium, Perth from January 14 to January 18

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Ashes: ECB plays down James Anderson's injury rumours; pacer rested ahead of 2nd Test

England pacer James Anderson has been ruled out of the 1st Ashes Test with a calf issue, the same injury the led him to miss the entire 2019 series.

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