Roundup: Anderson injury scare gives England fresh headache
Nineteen-year-old James Rew’s second Championship century in three games was overshadowed by Jimmy Anderson’s no-show for Lancashire on Friday, a “minor issue” believed to be a groin twinge and a red alert for England’s Ashes hopes with the first Test less than five weeks away.
The Guardian understands the 40-year-old will not bowl again in the match, having slipped unnoticed off the field about 15 minutes before stumps on Thursday evening. He remained off the field all day on Friday, with Lancashire tight-lipped about his progress. “A minor issue is being assessed,” was all they would say, with Anderson under the close eye of the Lancashire physio, Sam Byrne.
England’s band of walking wounded fast bowlers is filling up rapidly: Jofra Archer flew home early from the IPL after feeling discomfort from recent elbow surgery and Olly Stone has been ruled out for five to six weeks with a hamstring injury. Jamie Overton is recovering from a stress fracture and “unlikely” to have recovered in time for the Ashes, five Tests squeezed into a six-week window, and coming up rapidly on the rails. Meanwhile Saqib Mahmood is still working up to full match fitness, and Ben Stokes has been out of sorts at the Indian Premier League with a sore toe, and a chronic left knee problem.
Without Anderson Lancashire were unable to pin Somerset down, as the visitors first crawled, then skipped to 361. They got there thanks to a classy innings from Rew, who soaked up pressure at a cold and cloudy Old Trafford, and some late-afternoon larruping from Craig Overton and Matt Henry.
There were contrasting fortunes for Australia’s Championship players. Michael Neser, hovering in the Ashes wings, clunked 86 to give Glamorgan a sizeable lead over Worcestershire. But Sussex’s Steve Smith, who spent Thursday watching Grace Road’s groundstaff mop and squeeze, managed only three before meandering into a ball from Leicestershire’s Wiaan Mulder. Cheteshwar Pujara ruined his 100% conversion rate of 50s to 100s, when he was caught for 77.
Surrey finished the day on top in the London derby against Middlesex, led by 88 from Rory Burns and 55 not out from Jamie Smith, while at Chester-le-Street Jonny Bairstow made a circumspect 16 not out for Yorkshire against Durham.
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Handshakes at OT, after Balderson safely plays out Aldridge’s over. The evening runs swiftly in, floodlights on, heavy cloud, Lancashire trail by 289. A super day for James Rew, a fretful one for England’s selectors after James Anderson’s “minor issue” no-show. That’s it from me, till tomorrow, good night!
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