England selectors meet to decide on replacement for James Anderson
Saturday 1 August 2015 12:54, UK
England selectors will meet on Saturday to decide on who should replace James Anderson for the fourth Investec Ashes Test, which begins at Trent Bridge next Thursday.
Alastair Cook's side will head to Nottingham with a 2-1 series lead following the crushing eight-wicket win at Edgbaston on Friday, but they will be without their lead paceman for at least the next Test and possibly the final match at The Oval after he picked up a side strain in Birmingham.
Mark Wood, who played the first two Tests of the series but missed out at Edgbaston with an ankle injury, is the favourite to replace the Lancashire man after an impressive start to his Test career.
Wood's Durham team-mate Chris Rushworth will also come into consideration as the County Championship’s leading wicket-taker this season with 64 Division One scalps, although concerns about his relative lack of pace at Test level remain.
Mark Footitt is also in England's thoughts having gone on the pre-series training camp to Spain and he has continued to bowl well in Division Two. His left-arm swing would offer an attractive alternative to the pace and bounce of Stuart Broad and Steven Finn.
Chris Woakes is also on the comeback trail after injury, but England may wait until the autumn before restoring him back into the squad.
Another area of concern may be the position of Adam Lyth, who has scored just 72 runs in six innings as Cook's opening partner.
The Yorkshire left-hander has struggled with leaving the ball outside his off-stump and, having tried to correct himself by moving across his stumps, he was then trapped lbw by Josh Hazlewood for 12 during England's successful run-chase on Friday.
The Ashes - Live
Replacements are not obvious however, with Alex Hales out of form, while Nick Compton has not played for England for over two years.
With England ahead in the series and knowing victory at Trent Bridge would regain the urn, it would therefore be a surprise if England made more than the one enforced change.
Catch the fourth Ashes Test from Trent Bridge live on Sky Sports Ashes HD from 10am on Thursday. You can also watch the fourth Test with a NOW TV Sports Day Pass. Plus, our Ashes Events Centre - the best of Sky Cricket's analysis at your fingertips - is available on our iPad app.
