Former Australian pacer Jason Gillespie feels veteran England pace bowler James Anderson will not be a part of the second Ashes 2023 Test in Lord’s beginning from Wednesday, June 28. In his column for The Telegraph, Anderson revealed how helpless he felt on the placid Edgbaston wicket during the first Ashes Test as well. Gillespie also added that with the hosts continuing to play with the Bazball approach, they might get a similar pitch in Lord’s too.
Responding to a Sportskeeda Query in a media interaction arranged by Sony Sports Network, Jason Gillespie said: “I can’t see James Anderson playing at Lord’s. He was quoted in his column in one of his newspapers over here. It’s almost like he has talked himself out of the Test series if the surfaces are what they were in Edgbaston. Broad was brilliant at Edgbaston so he will play. Robinson I feel was good as well. Wood will come into consideration. Chris Woakes and Matthew Potts will come into consideration.”
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Jason Gillespie also opined on the importance of England playing Mark Wood and spoke about why England captain Ben Stokes doesn’t look fully fit. He also opened up on the changes Australia should make before the Lord’s Test and he hopes to play left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc as well.
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“I think Mark Wood will come into consideration for sure,” Jason Gillespie continued. “England could make a couple of changes. They can play the young leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed if Moeen Ali is injured or play four seamers with Joe Root as the spinner. Ben Stokes is bowling basically on one leg. That knee looks really sore. I think there is a chance that they will play him (Starc). One, because he does provide that left-arm variety as you said. He can come around the wicket and get those yorkers in. He creates a massive rough for Nathan Lyon as well. He gives their batting order a little bit depth. For all those reasons, he will come into consideration,” he concluded.
