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Flower confident of Anderson's fitness

England coach Andy Flower is confident that James Anderson will be fit for the first Test against Australia in Brisbane despite the fractured rib he sustained during the team's bonding trip to Germany last month

ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Oct-2010
James Anderson is a key part of England's attack after a productive home season  •  Getty Images

James Anderson is a key part of England's attack after a productive home season  •  Getty Images

England coach Andy Flower is confident that James Anderson will be fit for the first Test against Australia in Brisbane despite the fractured rib he sustained during the team's bonding trip to Germany last month.
It emerged that Anderson suffered the damage after taking a blow from Chris Tremlett during a boxing session at the five-day camp in Bavaria and initially it was suggested that he would miss at least the opening encounter at the Gabba which starts on November 25.
However, the ECB played down those fears and insisted Anderson's recovery was on track for the start of the contest and Flower, speaking during an ECB Sky Sports Coach Education Programme event, said he was hopeful that the paceman will be available for a major part of the warm-up programme.
"He's already bowling at 75%, so he should be fine for the first Test," Flower said. "More than likely, he'll be okay for two of those warm-up games."
Anderson went through fitness assessments at Loughborough this week with the rest of the England squad and on Monday was bowling in the indoor school at Old Trafford which suggested he remains on course.
The nature of Anderson's injury, coming as it did during an event widely derided in the media as a "boot camp", was a potential source of embarrassment to the ECB. However, Flower defended the reasons behind the trip.
"I have a problem with the term 'boot camp', because it is associated with punishment in some ways," he said. "I might do some stupid things in my time, but punishing players over five days is not one of them.
"The whole point of that camp was an educational, or training, or development camp, and it was conducted in that way," he added. "Jim getting injured was not part of the plan, but these things happen. Unless he injures something else he should be fine."
England fly out to Australia on Friday to start their preparation in Perth and their first match is a three-day game against Western Australia on November 5 before further first-class matches against South Australia and Australia A.