DURBAN — England is to wait until Thursday before making a decision on whether James Anderson can lead the attack in the first Test against South Africa after the fast bowler had a scan on his calf Tuesday.
Anderson, the country’s leading wicket-taker, complained of stiffness in his calf and his scans will be evaluated by medical staff in England before a decision is made on whether he can play in the Boxing Day Test in Durban, officials told reporters.
The 33-year-old Anderson bowled just five overs on tour so far in the first warm-up game in Potchefstroom one week ago. He did not play in the second warm-up match in Pietermaritzburg which England won convincingly Tuesday.
England had been happy to keep him fresh before the first Test but had planned hard work in the nets for Anderson before Saturday’s start at Kingsmead.
If he does not play, Chris Woakes would likely be drafted into a four-man seam attack comprising Stuart Broad, Steven Finn and Ben Stokes.
Anderson has claimed 426 Test wickets during his career and overtook previous record-holder Ian Botham during England’s tour of the Caribbean earlier this year.
Meanwhile, South Africa seeks to dispel suggestions that it is a side on the decline, suddenly lacking in the confidence that has been the hallmark of its reign as the world’s top Test side.
Both countries return to seam-friendly wickets after losing on spinning tops in India and — for some of the time — the United Arab Emirates in the last two months.
South Africa’s limitations against spin were cruelly exposed in India in a one-sided four-Test series, which the home team won 3-0 and which could have been a whitewash had weather not intervened.
England was beaten 2-0 by Pakistan in a three-match series in the UAE, prompting several changes — notably the axing of stalwart Ian Bell — to the squad for the South African tour.
England is still seeking to solve the longstanding problem of finding a reliable opening partner for Alastair Cook, having gone through seven in 39 Tests since Andrew Strauss retired in 2012.
Alex Hales will be the eighth to open the innings with the captain while the No.3 slot is likely to go to Nick Compton, making a return to the side after lasting only nine tests at the top of the order after being appointed Strauss’s immediate successor.
It will be a boost to England’s confidence that each of their scheduled top six batsmen go into the series with a score of 50 or more under their belts from the two warm-up matches over the last week.
They included centuries from Cook and Joe Root, who is looking to take his Ashes form from earlier this year into the series. “We will have to play some strong cricket, be disciplined and play at our best if we are going to compete with them,” Root said this week.
But South Africa has lost much of its swagger since charismatic captain Graeme Smith and all-rounder Jacques Kallis retired.
After its poor batting display in India, it has persuaded a reluctant AB de Villiers to again don the wicketkeeper’s gloves to make room for an extra batsmen.
But it has received a boost with attack bowler Dale Steyn passing a fitness test after a groin injury provided him with a much-needed break and a chance to rekindle the hunger of old. He could yet provided a talismanic influence.
