England coach Chris Silverwood announced earlier this week that both James Anderson and Stuart Broad are "fit and ready" for the second Ashes Test in Adelaide.
England copped plenty of criticism in the first Test for leaving both Anderson and Broad out of the bowling lineup at the Gabba - a pair that has amassed 1,156 Test wickets.
“They are available, yes,” Silverwood said while speaking to the media.
“Jimmy will be fit and ready to go for the second Test, as will Stuart. I have not told anyone they are playing yet.
“The guys have already been training with the pink ball behind the scenes. And what we have got is a very skilful set of bowlers. We have talent and we still have two of the best up our sleeve as well.”
England's XI for the day-night #Ashes Test in Adelaide must have...
a) James Anderson
b) Stuart Broad
c) Both James Anderson and Stuart Broad pic.twitter.com/wzgqMLq4Mn— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) December 11, 2021
The England Cricket Board (ECB) claim that Anderson's non-selection was not injury-based, but a decision to rest him ahead of the Adelaide Test. During the 2019 Ashes, Anderson suffered an injury in the first Test before playing no further part in the series, perhaps sparking due caution from the tourists.
It has been revealed that Anderson was "disappointed" and "his fingers (were) twitching when he saw the pitch". Likewise, Broad is reported to have been ready and expecting to play in Brisbane, before being axed. The lack of bowling firepower may have swayed Root's decision to bat first on a green top at the Gabba.
Former Australian fast bowler Brett Lee said the decisions were totally "mind-boggling".
“It’s totally mind-boggling. If these guys were fully fit and they weren’t played for looking at other options, then I think England have made a massive mistake," Lee said speaking to Fox Cricket.
“If they were close to being fully fit and they want to hold them back a few days and get them match-fit for day two, fair enough. But from what I’m hearing, they were looking at a different options type of thing, and maybe that’s a smokescreen for them not being fully fit.
"They were sorely missed."
England players were left with little match preparation due to a tight white-ball schedule, as well as Brisbane's non-stop rain which left them devoid of any match preparation.
The inclusions of Anderson and Broad, coupled with the concerns of Jack Leach's selection prospects has left England with a selection headache for the second Test.
In the first Test at the Gabba, Chris Woakes, Ollie Robinson and Mark Wood took the field as the seamers, while Leach played as their spinner.
With the Test beginning tomorrow, England are poised to play one of, if not both Broad and Anderson in Adelaide, posing several headaches at the selection table over who to leave out of the side.
💬We'll see how everyone pulls up and then we've obviously got some big decisions to make.💬
Will James Anderson and Stuart Broad feature in the second #Ashes Test? Joe Root was giving nothing away...
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) December 14, 2021
Leach was dismantled at the Gabba, returning figures of 1/102 off 13 overs in the first innings. The English spinner was battered around the park as the Australian batting order piled on the runs in what appeared to be a premeditated attack.
It deterred Root from bowling Leach, and the lack of spinning overs blew out England's over rate - resulting in being docked 100% of their match fees.
Root even bowled six overs himself (1/29) and his part-time off-spin could provide the modicum of variety if Leach misses out in Adelaide. A dying wicket in Adelaide heading into Day 4 and 5 may require a spinner.
Which bowlers should England pick for the Adelaide Test?@Ben_Wisden and @Yas_Wisden discuss.
Open a @bet365 account ⬇️https://t.co/xSxejFP6Gu
18+ #BeGambleAware pic.twitter.com/UROJ0ypOid— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) December 14, 2021
Robinson was the pick of the seam bowlers in the first Test, taking 3/58 from 23 overs (including eight maidens). He didn't give the Australians much leeway, with the fruits of his travails returning an economy rate of 2.52.
Wood bowled the fastest spell of the first Test and took 3/85 from 25.3 overs in his own right at the Gabba. He consistently hit the 140 km/h mark and removed Steve Smith late on Day 2, with his express speed providing the biggest point of difference among the English bowlers. Such speed would be welcomed under the lights in Adelaide.
Woakes took 2/76 in the first innings at the Gabba, but appears to be first in line to make way for a replacement due to his similarities with Broad, Anderson and also Robinson. Although, a batting average of 27.42 at No.8 would be more than handy in an under-prepared English batting lineup.
England are playing the wait and see game as Joe Root ponders his biggest selection test as England captain over which bowler/s to leave out.