He’s England’s all-time leading wicket-taker, but there will come a day in the near future when the Three Lions will have to replace Jimmy Anderson.
Unfortunately for the selectors and supporters alike, it looks like that time will come sooner than all concerned would have anticipated.
The seamer is a doubt for the first Test of the summer, when England face their old nemesis South Africa in July. He suffered a groin tear while bowling in the County Championship Roses match for Lancashire against Yorkshire.
Given he’s missed four of England’s last 10 Test matches, following a shoulder injury picked up last summer, it’s a worrying trend. And, at 34, he’s not getting younger.
Naturally, given his performances for his country and status as the leader of the attack, moving on from Anderson won’t be easy. He remains an integral part of England’s plans and is crucial to their success. Indeed, he’d started the season in good form for his county, and had already picked up a Yorkshire wicket from the five overs he managed before his injury.
However, with the Ashes to come in Australia at the end of the year, England can ill-afford to waste time preparing a starting line-up that can help them retain the urn and work back towards the top of the Test rankings following a troubled winter on the sub-continent.
And with Joe Root having replaced Alastair Cook as captain, Anderson – who was said to be miffed at not being considered for the role himself – has leadership qualities that mustn’t be underestimated.
Fortunately for England, there are plenty of options. You could argue that his record and ability to swing the ball both ways makes Anderson irreplaceable. Certainly, a true likeness is hard to find and his longevity points to leaving a gaping hole.
But with injuries increasingly common, and with England’s most packed year of internationals underway, it’s time to look to a different future.
Stuart Broad has games under his belt for Nottinghamshire, and in the most part has appeared in good form. He will lead the attack, with Chris Woakes the favourite to share the new ball should Anderson not return. Certainly in the longer term, Woakes is the most natural successor.
With the hugely talented all-rounder Ben Stokes and the returning pace of Mark Wood – the seam attack is still well stocked. And remains a fine supporting cast, ready to battle for find their way into Root’s thinking.
The improving Jake Ball has become a mainstay of the limited overs squads and made his Test bow last term, while Steven Finn – despite his problems – remains a hugely competent wicket-taker with a record that illustrates he can handle the big occasions.
Toby Roland-Jones, integral as Middlesex won last season’s County Championship, had a terrific winter with England Lions and the Curran brothers – Sam and Tom – are highly regarded and certainly on the radar of the selectors.
Replacing Anderson should no longer induce the panic it once would.
