England captain Ben Stokes has said that James Anderson does have a future with the side beyond the Ashes 2023 series, after the pacer was picked for the final Test match being held at the Oval.
Anderson has been under scrutiny for his performance in the ongoing Ashes 2023 series. Despite being a seasoned player, the 41-year-old’s contribution to the series has been less than stellar, leading to questions about his place in the team.
In the context of Anderson’s overall performance in the series, he took one wicket in the Manchester Test and managed only three wickets in the first two games, giving away 226 runs. He has an average of 76.75. These statistics further underscored the concerns about his performance in the series.
Despite the criticism, Anderson has defended himself and said he wouldn’t retire just yet. When England announced their side for the Oval Test, Anderson found himself in the side\, with Stokes backing the call.
Speaking to the reporters on the eve of the Test, as quoted by Guardian, Stokes hailed Anderson as the greatest fast bowler to play the game and said that he has role to play in the future of the side.
“Jimmy Anderson is the greatest fast bowler to play the game,” he said. “He’s not had the impact and the wickets he’d have liked to in this series, he’s come under a bit of flak, but he’s a quality performer.”
