PAK vs ENG, 1st Test: James Anderson joins England in Multan after golf criticism
After a furore over his absence from the touring England squad on the opening day of the first Test in Multan, bowling consultant James Anderson joined the team on the second day. Anderson was seen spending time in the dressing room of the England cricket team at the Multan Cricket Ground on Tuesday, October 8.
Questions were asked about James Anderson’s absence during England’s pre-series training in Pakistan. It emerged that the legendary fast bowler was away playing a professional golf tournament in Scotland from October 3 to 6. The criticism intensified after England’s difficult start with the ball on the opening day as Pakistan amassed 328 after scoring at over four runs per over in the first two sessions.
Anderson was scheduled to join the team from Day 2 of the first Test. The fast bowler was spotted in the dressing room, joining the coaching staff, led by Brendon McCullum on Tuesday.
McCullum, in fact, had played down the criticism about Anderson’s absence in the lead-up to the Test series, highlighting that the legendary pacer was able to work with the bowlers remotely.
PAK vs ENG, Multan Test Day 2 Updates
Critics argued that Anderson’s presence was needed more than ever before the tour of Pakistan to guide a young crop of fast bowlers. Chris Woakes, who was playing only his fourth Test in the subcontinent, was the most experienced pacer in the bowling line-up for the first Test. England picked Gus Atkinson, who was playing his first overseas Test, while tall pacer Brydon Carse was handed a debut.
“He’ll be here on day two or whenever it is and I don’t have any concerns over it. It’s a combined decision amongst everyone. He’s on a bowling consultant as well, he’s not on a full-time contract and we’ll take what we can get when we can get it. I think if he was at home with his family I’d question whether anyone would have any problems with it. But because he’s playing golf there’s some uncertainty around it,” McCullum said, defending the former fast bowler.
England did not throw in the towel and pick three wickets in the final session. Gus Atkinson got the big wicket of centurion Abdullah Shafique, breaking a 253-run stand for the second wicket. Left-arm spinner Jack Leach got captain Shan Masood, who led Pakistan’s charge with 151, his first Test hundred as skipper. Chris Woakes got the big wicket of Babar Azam in the penultimate over of the day, lifting England’s spirits at the end of a hot day.
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