England’s Anderson ruled out of final Ashes test

The team’s fast bowlers have reacted wonderfully, as if sending down a thank you note with every ball.

Wood returned figures of three for sixty nine in Australia’s second innings in Nottingham, ending the match by bowling Nathan Lyon to give England an unassailable 3-1 lead in the collection. But if an Ashes series has to reach the final Test with the series settled, there is no ground, not even Lord’s, that can shrug off a largely meaningless match as successfully as The Oval. “There’s a one-day series to come so he’ll probably get his chance in that”. Australia have urgent rebuilding to do and victory will not alter that.

A 4-1 victory for England would be the heaviest defeat they have inflicted on the Australians since 1978-79 in a series where players were absent due to World Series Cricket.

Roy Hodgson was a surprise guest at The Oval as England and Australia fine-tuned their preparations for the final Ashes Test. And they mean business.

Anderson took 6 for 47 during Australia’s first innings in Birmingham but managed just one more wicket in the second before pulling up with injury.

“Cooky called us all on Tuesday, to say: “Let’s make sure we turn up knowing that we’re in a battle and that we want to start again, Because I’ve got a burning desire for this to be 4-1”, Broad said.

“Perhaps unlike other teams in the past – the 2005 side’s Ashes win was their pinnacle and what they built towards for two or three years – I genuinely believe this side has more ahead of it. You’ll see likes of Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes improving as cricketers”.

England know they have exposed Australia’s shortcomings against seam and swing.

The pitch still looks pretty green and I think it will be another tough Test match for the batters. If England are to win they will have to do so authentically.

“It was deeply embarrassing being over there for that”, he said.

“Currently he does have some niggling problems that we would like to manage”, Australia coach Darren Lehmann said of Hazlewood.

Cook said Root’s style was similar to that of New Zealand rising star Kane Williamson, who has also played for Yorkshire and was lauded earlier this season by the county’s former England opening batsman Geoffrey Boycott as someone good enough to have played on uncovered pitches.

That was a phlegmatic attitude. I would also consider resting James Anderson for the UAE.

It has not worked out that way, much as the same plan did not work out for England in Australia last time around.

After watching England play football for half-an-hour, he gave a favourable report on that too.