England has announced a 14-man squad for the highly anticipated fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford. Notably, James Anderson and Josh Tongue, who were left out of the playing eleven for the previous Test, have retained their places in the squad.
The team selection for the fourth Test remains unaltered from the squad announced for the third Test at Headingley, where England secured a crucial victory to keep their Ashes hopes alive. The ongoing five-Test series currently stands at 2-1, with the upcoming Test scheduled to commence on July 19 at Old Trafford.
While concerns were raised about Ollie Robinson’s fitness during the third Test, the fast bowler has managed to retain his spot in the squad, signaling his availability for the upcoming encounter.
As customary, England will further trim down the squad to finalize their playing eleven on the eve of the Test. One of the key questions surrounding the selection process is whether James Anderson will make a comeback on his home ground at Old Trafford.
Anderson himself holds no reservations about the decisions being made and expressed his complete trust in the team management’s judgment. In his column for The Telegraph, he stated,
“They will select the strongest team to compete against Australia that particular week. I am fully content with whatever they decide. I am aware that I am not guaranteed a spot in the next Test, and I will fully understand if they choose to stick with the winning combination. The selection process is beyond my control. I ensure that I am in good form and ready to contribute whenever required.”
Ben Stokes hinted at James Anderson’s inclusion in the fourth Ashes Test
Before the third Test, Ben Stokes hinted that there was a strong possibility of James Anderson returning for the fourth Test. Stokes emphasized the importance of managing the workload of the bowlers throughout the summer, acknowledging the challenging nature of the series.
He stated, “We were honest and transparent with each other before the series began, recognizing that it would be demanding for the bowlers to play every game this summer. It provides a great opportunity for Jimmy to rest and then charge in from the Jimmy Anderson End at Old Trafford next week.”
The stage is set for a thrilling contest at Old Trafford, where England will look to level the series against their arch-rivals Australia. While the opponents would aim to clinch the series by winning the crucial Test.
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