‘Am I allowed to say that?’
Jimmy Anderson accidentally revealed that he would be part of England’s team to face Australia in the second Ashes test that starts on Thursday.
The veteran pace bowler was left out of the squad that was crushed by Australia last week as the hosts cruised to a nine-wicket victory in the first Ashes Test.
After a woeful first innings which saw England bowled out for 147, Pat Cummins’ men put on 425 in response. However, the visitors looked to be on course for a strong score in the second innings, before they lost eight wickets for just 77 runs and were bowled out for 297.
Australia then promptly chased the 20 runs they needed to complete the victory, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series and maintaining their 35-year unbeaten run against England at the Gabba.
Many people questioned the decision to leave both Anderson and Stuart Broad out of the team, but it appears that they both might feature in the second test match.
"Am I allowed to say that?" James Anderson picked up a few early laughs in his media conference on the eve of his 167th Test #Ashes pic.twitter.com/v6ICmh7dG3
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 15, 2021
Speaking at a press conference before a nets session, the 39-year-old was asked whether he “was in” – a question that caught Anderson off guard.
“Yeah,” he replied, before quickly adding: “I’m in the media conference!” to a chorus of laughs.
He then added: “Dunno, I’m in the 12, am I allowed to say that?
“Great start this, it’s been a while! Yeah, I think I’m in the 12 so will just have to keep my fingers crossed for the XI tomorrow.”
The bowler was then asked whether Broad was in the team as well, to which he nervously responded: “I don’t know”.
England’s leading wicket-taker also spoke about playing at the Adelaide Oval, where Joe Root’s side will be playing in the exciting day-night test match.
Anderson revealed that the ground was his ‘favourite outside the UK’ and that the squad were keen to put in a better performance than the first test.
“The atmosphere is great, people love their cricket in Adelaide and the stuff they’ve done the ground is fanatics, it’s now an amazing stadium.
“All the guys love playing here and we’re just hopeful of putting in a good performance to edge it back into more good games than bad.”
England’s second Ashes test against Australia will start at 4am (UK time) on Thursday, with the Three Lions hoping to bounce back from the disappointing defeat in the first.
Related links:
- England collapse to hand Australia comfortable win in first Ashes Test
- Manchester United co-owner Avram Glazer buys franchise cricket team
- Tim Paine takes immediate break from all forms of cricket ahead of Ashes
