James Anderson says England omission from Sri Lanka tour is ‘very frustrating’

James Anderson has admitted it was ‘very frustrating’ to be left out of England’s tour to Sri Lanka but maintained he was looking forward to a full pre-season with Lancashire.

Anderson, England’s all-time leading wicket-taker, missed the last two Test matches in their tour to South Africa with a rib injury. However, the Lancashire paceman declared himself fully fit for the two-match Test series in Sri Lanka following the injury, but was overlooked by the selectors so that he could fully prepare for the home season against West Indies and Pakistan.

Asked at the launch of the ECB’s new Dynamos Cricket programme how disappointed he was to be omitted from the 16-man touring party, Anderson said: ‘It was very frustrating but it happens, there’s not a lot I can do about it. I’m just focusing on the summer and starting the season with Lancashire, because all I can do is focus on when I can play cricket next and that’s with Lancashire and hopefully I can. 

Anderson suffered a rib injury during England’s tour of South Africa but is now fully fit

‘I’m not injured. I have been bowling for two weeks now. I’ve not had that many county pre-seasons, because I’ve been touring with England most of the time. I am just excited to get outside, I have been inside for most of this winter.’ 

Anderson has also backed Lancashire team-mate Keaton Jennings to learn from his previous mistakes in an England shirt after the 27-year-old batsman was recalled to the squad.

Jennings has not played for England since their consolation victory against West Indies at St Lucia in February last year, after which he averaged just 25 from 17 Test matches.

However, his healthier average of 44.44 from five Tests in Asia has seen him drafted back in, and Anderson believes that figure could help push himself back into the reckoning at the top of the order.

Anderson has backed Lancashire team-mate Keaton Jennings to thrive after his England recall

‘He had a good season with Lancashire and he has performed with the Lions,’ Anderson said.

‘I think he is definitely going to have learnt from previous times he has been with England and I think that success he has had in the subcontinent will help him for this tour to Sri Lanka.

‘All he can do is perform as well as he can but I imagine he is not going to look much further ahead than these two Test matches.’

He was speaking at the launch of Dynamos Cricket, ECB’s new programme for kids aged 8-11

James Anderson was speaking at the launch of Dynamos Cricket, ECB’s new cricket programme for children aged 8-11. Parents can find out more and register their kids at dynamoscricket.co.uk.