Five-Test series against India in August-September could see England players be rotated as the hosts look to counter the issue of physical and mental fatigue during a busy cricket summer, hinted experienced paceman James Anderson.
Anderson said England will be mindful of the fact that the India series features five back-to-back Tests with not much break in-between. England have adopted the rest and rotation policy for their busiest cricketers since the resumption of on-field play amid the COVID-19 pandemic last summer.
The idea has been to avoid bio-bubble fatigue that players like Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer and Jos Buttler could face due to the strict health regulations and quarantine norms.
England received heavy criticism for their approach during the winter tour to India, especially when they suffered a disappointing 3-1 Test series defeat. The criticism only enhanced when the players rested for Test assignments were controversially given the green signal to play the Indian Premier League 2021 in its entirety.
Anderson, however, forwarded his support to the team management and the selectors in this regard, adding that the pandemic times have made it necessary to look after players’ interests and keep them fresh. He hinted that the same rotation policy could be adopted and implemented for the India Test series, beginning August 4.
“The five Tests against India might be a different story with back-to-backs in quite quick succession. That might be where people get rotated a bit more. The rotation in the winter was completely understandable with the amount of cricket we had and the amount of time in bubbles that we were spending.”
“It’s going to be slightly different this summer. If everything goes well, I think it will start to get relaxed. We won’t be in the sort of bubble life that we’ve experienced in the last 12 months. So there might be not as much reason to rest people.”
Anderson was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
Before hosting India in the latter half of the summer, England also take on New Zealand in a two-Test series, starting June 2 at Lord’s. Anderson said he would love to play all the seven Tests and do so alongside his longstanding new-ball partner Stuart Broad. England haven’t been playing Anderson and Broad together for a while now.
“Yes, I’d love to play all seven Tests this summer. There are five Tests against India after these two Tests against New Zealand, and then the Ashes after that. So we want to start this summer well. So hopefully, if we do pick our strongest team, we (Anderson and Broad) would like to think that we’re both in that. And we’d love to share the new ball together, yes.”
“Stuart and I have sent a few texts to each other saying it’d be nice if we did get to play together. Obviously, it’s completely down to the coach and captain. But I think, from the team’s point of view, we want to get some momentum going into a big summer,”
he added.
Unable to make the final of the inaugural World Test Championship, England will be hoping for a couple of strong outings against the Black Caps as they build towards the Ashes tour to Australia later in the year.
While New Zealand will also pose a stiff challenge, it is only after locking horns with the more robust Indian side that England would feel sure of their final playing XI heading into the Ashes.
