England bowling marketing consultant and veteran seamer Jimmy Anderson’s choice to skip the group’s preparations for the Check sequence in Pakistan for a golf event has raised eyebrows.
The 42-year-old Anderson, who retired in July, was later appointed England’s red-ball bowling mentor. Nonetheless, forward of Monday’s first Check in opposition to Pakistan in Multan, Anderson was not a part of England’s pre-series preps as he travelled to Scotland to take part within the Alfred Dunhill Hyperlinks Championship, a pro-am golf event.
England’s assault is brief on abroad expertise and that was exemplified when Pakistan made a speedy begin with the bat after profitable the toss on Day 1. Blunting the English tempo assault on a placid pitch, Pakistan had scored over 4.5 runs per over throughout two classes as captain Shan Masood introduced up his first Check hundred after 4 years.
Former English first-class cricketer and famend tempo coach Ian Pont lamented England’s poor bowling efficiency on the opening day whereas additionally taking a dig at Anderson’s absence. “England’s seam bowlers badly underneath the pump in Multan. Pakistan fully cashing in on a flat observe and a few lacklustre bowling. Below this contemporary teaching regime, England’s bowling marketing consultant is 3 underneath par although on the golf course, which is nice information,” Pont wrote on X.
England’s seam bowlers badly underneath the pump in Multan. Pakistan fully cashing in on a flat observe and a few lacklustre bowling. Below this contemporary teaching regime, England’s bowling marketing consultant is 3 underneath par although on the golf course, which is nice information. #everycloud#PAKvsENG
— Ian Pont Official (@Ponty100mph) October 7, 2024
‘McCullum backs Jimmy’
Nonetheless, England head coach Brendon McCullum threw his weight behind Anderson on the eve of the Check, insisting that it was a collective choice. Chatting with former England captain Michael Atherton on Sky Sports activities, McCullum mentioned: “Two months in the past, you guys have been saying he didn’t need to be the coach. Now we’re lacking him. That’s affirmation of how good an influence Jimmy Anderson has made within the quick time period [during] his transition from participant to educate.”
McCullum additionally insisted that “We reside in a world the place you’ll be able to nonetheless talk with out being nose to nose.”
“It’s a mixed choice amongst everybody. He [Anderson] has made an enormous transition from a 20-odd-year profession into his new function and “he’s on as a bowling marketing consultant as properly, it isn’t a full-time function.”
“I haven’t got any considerations, it was a mixed choice” 🗣️
Brendon McCullum defends bowling marketing consultant, James Anderson’s choice to play within the Alfred Dunhill Hyperlinks Championship which means he’ll miss the beginning of the primary Check in opposition to Pakistan 🏴 pic.twitter.com/0B2CGkJUiu
— Sky Sports activities Cricket (@SkyCricket) October 6, 2024
McCullum additionally mentioned te packed schedule known as for obligatory breaks as Anderson had opted for. “The challenges and calls for of the worldwide cricket calendar imply you want to get out and luxuriate in your self as properly. If he have been at house along with his household, I query whether or not anybody would have issues with it.”
On the time of publishing, England had conceded 199 runs for a solitary wicket in 42 overs, conceding 4.72 runs per over.
The veteran Anderson, who featured in 188 Checks, retired after the Lord’s Check in opposition to West Indies in July with a haul of 704 wickets, the all-time for a quick bowler.