James Anderson Delays Arrival in Pakistan for Golf Tournament
In Multan, Pakistan, England’s head coach Brendon McCullum defended James Anderson’s decision to delay his arrival in Pakistan. Anderson, a legendary pacer turned bowling coach, participated in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, a golf event in Scotland. Due to this, Anderson, who became the bowling coach after retiring from international cricket, missed the pre-series presentation for the three Tests in Pakistan. He will arrive on October 8, the second day of the first Test match.
Despite his absence, Anderson has maintained contact with the English pacers, an inexperienced group led by Chris Woakes and including young players Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse. McCullum, speaking on Sky Sports, highlighted Anderson’s positive impact since transitioning from player to coach. He noted that Anderson’s role is not full-time and emphasized the ability to communicate without being face-to-face.
Current Series Details
Pakistan is currently playing England in a three-match series, with the first Test starting in Multan. Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first. England is fourth in the ICC World Test Championship standings, while Pakistan is eighth after a series loss to Bangladesh.
Teams
| Pakistan Playing XI | England Playing XI |
|---|---|
| Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood(c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan(w), Agha Salman, Aamer Jamal, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed | Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope(c), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith(w), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir |
Doubts Revealed
James Anderson -: James Anderson is a famous cricket player from England. He is known for being a fast bowler, which means he throws the cricket ball very fast to try and get the batsman out.
Pacer -: A pacer in cricket is a bowler who bowls very fast. They use speed to try and get the batsman out.
Bowling coach -: A bowling coach is someone who helps cricket players improve their bowling skills. They give advice and tips to make the bowlers better.
Golf tournament -: A golf tournament is a competition where people play golf to see who can get the ball in the holes with the fewest hits. It’s a different sport from cricket.
Brendon McCullum -: Brendon McCullum is a former cricket player from New Zealand. He is now a coach, helping cricket teams play better.
ICC World Test Championship -: The ICC World Test Championship is a big competition in cricket. Teams from different countries play Test matches to see who is the best.
Multan -: Multan is a city in Pakistan. It is known for its rich history and is one of the places where cricket matches are played.
