BIRMINGHAM, (Reuters) – England would love to regain the Ashes in the next test at Trent Bridge but the loss of leading bowler James Anderson to injury is a disappointment they must overcome, captain Alastair Cook said.
The hosts took a 2-1 series lead yesterday with two matches to play after crushing Australia by eight wickets in the third test at Edgbaston.
The absence of Anderson in Nottingham, where he has an exceptional record, and possibly at The Oval in the final test, will be keenly felt.
England’s top bowler in tests with 413 wickets took six for 47 to put Cook’s men in control on the first day but suffered a side strain in Australia’s second innings.
“It’s disappointing, Jimmy’s record at Trent Bridge is brilliant. I said at the beginning of the week we had an opportunity as a squad at 1-1 do something very special in the next three games,” Cook told reporters.
“Now it’s an opportunity for someone, whoever replaces Jimmy with the new ball to do something very special.”
Recalled paceman Steven Finn, man-of-the-match after taking eight wickets in the match including six in Australia’s second innings on his test return after a two-year absence, will undoubtedly share the new ball with Stuart Broad.
Finn replaced Mark Wood, who played in the first two tests, but the Durham seamer should return if he has recovered from an ankle niggle.
