Jimmy Anderson fighting to be fit for winter despite Ashes KO
JAMES ANDERSON retains the ambition and desire to get himself fit enough to play for England again.
That is the view of Stuart Broad, his friend and new-ball partner for most of the last decade, who is convinced Anderson wants to tour New Zealand and South Africa this winter.
Anderson is distraught at being ruled out of the final two Tests - especially as the match beginning on Wednesday is at Old Trafford, where he has an end named after him.
The Lancashire swing king has gone on a family holiday but Broad spoke to him before he left.
Broad said: "He’s obviously very disappointed.
"He put his heart and soul into getting back to full fitness.
"He did everything he could.
"I’ve seen him running and bowling – and he bowled 20-odd overs the other day.
"I had in my mind that it was almost written in the stars he’d be open the bowling at the James Anderson End and bowl us to victory. But that’s not going to happen.
"He’s going to have a period of ifs and buts – what if I’d done this, could I have done that?
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"But it’s also important for him to have a break and look forward to future challenges.
"Jimmy has a lot of cricket left in him. I think he’s realistic - at 37, your body takes longer to heal.
"But I know - well, I don’t know for certain but from the conversations we’ve had - he’s looking at the winter and getting fit and wanting to be on that trip."