JOHANNESBURG, (Reuters) – James Anderson took a wicket as he bowled for England for the first time in five months to help dismiss Cricket South Africa Invitation XI for 289 runs yesterday.
England had declared overnight on 309 for four to allow their bowlers a chance to get in some practice on the last day of the two-day warm-up game at Willowmoore Park in Benoni, on the outskirts of Johannesburg.
Chris Woakes (3-48) was also among the wickets as England’s bowling resources were stretched with Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad and Jack Leach out through illness, and Mark Wood injured. Ben Stokes only arrived on Tuesday after winning the BBC Sports Personality of the Year prize on Sunday.
Anderson, who took 1-37, last played for England in August when a calf injury forced to limp out of the first Ashes test. England will now play a second warm-up match before the first test against their hosts begins in Pretoria on Boxing Day.
They take on South Africa A over three days at Willowmoore Park, starting tomorrow.