Ian Baker - England have not boxed clever with Anderson
19 Oct 2010 - 14:05:58
You would think England would want to keep all their players fighting fit for the Ashes, wouldn't you?
Especially after setbacks to key players seriously impacted them on previous tours.
So the news that Jimmy Anderson cracked a rib while boxing with Chris Tremlett will anger England fans upset their chances went up in smoke before previous tours down under even began.
Last time in 2006, England's preparations were brought into chaos by the will he, won't he saga involving Michael Vaughan. England captain at the time, Vaughan had to pull out due to a knee injury meaning Andrew Flintoff skippered the side to abject failure.
Marcus Trescothick's personal problems flared up again while Simon Jones, such a key figure in 2005, also missed the tour due to injury.
Four years earlier the situation was arguably even worse. Darren Gough and Graham Thorpe, England's two best players of the time, pulled out and were joined by Jones who suffered an horrendous knee injury just an hour into the first Test at the Gabba.
The fear now is the injury problems that have hampered England's recent tours are coming back. The Three Lions have largely had luck on their side when it comes to serious injury concerns of late - but you can't help but think the players should have been wrapped more in cotton wall than go to 'boot camp'.
Anderson is an important player for Andrew Strauss and, although I've stated I don't expect him to have a great time on Australian wickets, England have no other bowler like him. He would be a huge loss to the side.
Strauss, Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad are England’s three irreplaceable players. If anything happened to that trio, the Three Lions could be in all sorts of problems.
This might be a bit of ifs and buts. However, was it really a sensible idea to send England's players on such a strenuous training camp?
The ECB say Anderson will be ready for the first Test in Brisbane on November 25. But how fit will he be? How much preparation will he have? This may turn out to be a massive own goal.
