Anderson Given A Rest Following Ashes Heroics

Anderson Given A Rest Following Ashes Heroics

James Anderson is being given a ten-day rest from cricket

©Action Images/ Jason O'Brien Livepic

England fast bowler James Anderson is to be handed a rest and return home instead of playing in the two Twenty20 Internationals and first three One-Day Internationals in Australia.

Anderson, who took 24 wickets in the five-match Ashes Test series, will return in time for the final four matches, which will be England's final games before the World Cup in Asia, which begins on 19th February.

He will return to England on 8th January, returning on 22nd January - ahead of the fourth ODI in Adelaide on 26th January.

To cover for Anderson's absence, Middlesex's Steven Finn will remain with the squad in Australia.

“James Anderson will be returning to the UK for a complete break from cricket for 10 days," team director Andy Flower told the England & Wales Cricket Board website (www.ecb.co.uk).

“He has had a heavy workload so far this winter, playing in all five Tests, and we feel that he will benefit from a short rest period to ensure that he is fresh for the second half of the Australia ODI series and the World Cup which follows shortly after.”

© Cricket World 2011

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