Section:GDN 1N PaGe:44 Edition Date:190724 Edition:03 Zone: Sent at 24/7/2019 0:04 cYanmaGentaYellowbl
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The Guardian
Wednesday 24 July 2019Joe Root remain s upbeat with the Ashes
looming despite confi rmation yester-
day that the leader of his attack, Jimmy
Anderson, will not play in England’s
fi rst-ever Test against Ireland at Lord’s.
Anderson was included in the squad
of 13 for this historic occasion despitehardly a picture of despondency as he
resumed his captaincy duties – partly
because he expects Anderson to be fi t
for the fi rst Ashes Test.
“Jimmy probably would have been
able to get through this match [against
Ireland] but we’re just making sure
that he’s absolutely ready,” Root said.
“We thought the last thing we want is
him carrying a niggle, so we have tried
to be sensible about it and to give him
as much time to be 100% going into
the Ashes series. We’re very confi dent
that he’ll be fi t.”
The prognosis for Wood is not
so cheerful: at best he might have
recovered from his side strain by the
fourth Test. But the news of Archer is
more optimistic. He has been taking
some time out back in Barbados andANDREW FOSKER/BPI/REX/SHUTTERSTOCKVic Marks
Lord’sTokyo calling
Team GB target
‘medals and
more’ one year
from Olympics
Under a cloud
Peaty backs
his British
teammate over
podium snub
Page 38 Page 37
returns to England today. Root said
they had been monitoring him closely.
“He is doing everything he can to be
ready for the fi rst Test at Edgbaston.”
However, the England captain is
mindful that Archer has never played
a Test and that he needs to be fully
fi t before he starts his international
career with a red ball. “Coming off
the back of a World Cup he’s shown
that he can perform in international
cricket and his record is good with
Sussex with the red ball. Of course,
you want as many options as possible
going into the Ashes. Most importantly
for someone like Jofra you have to be
sure he is right and ready to go.”
In the absence of Archer and Wood,
Stone will provide the pace
against Ireland. He touredNo need to panic
We’re saving Anderson
for the Ashes, says Root
43 Page 35
Andy Bull ‘The Open showed Ireland deserves its place in the sun.So why is the ECB treating them like guinea pigs with a four-day Test?’
P
acquiring a calf injury a fortnight ago.
But when Root revealed England’s XI
yesterday the name of Anderson was
missing. He joins other pace bowlers,
Mark Wood and Jofra Archer, on the
sidelines and his absence allows Olly
Stone of Warwickshire to make his
Test debut.
This is far from ideal with the fi rst
Test against Australia at Edgbaston
only eight days away. But Root was▲ Jimmy Anderson’s calf injury has
not healed in time for him to playThomas survives crash Page 40
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