Ben Stokes refuses to explain his decision to end Jimmy Anderson's Test career for fear of being accused of 'ageism' as he persists with 35-year-old Chris Woakes despite Lord's struggle
England embark on life after Jimmy Anderson on Thursday, with skipper Ben Stokes reluctant to explain the decision to usher him into retirement for fear of sounding 'ageist'. The second Test against West Indies at Trent Bridge will instead provide Chris Woakes with the chance to lead the attack on his 50th appearance, and confirm the selectors were right to stick with him while dispensing with Anderson. England embark on life after Jimmy Anderson on Thursday The second Test against West Indies at Trent Bridge will instead provide Chris Woakes with the chance to lead the attack on his 50th appearance Yet with the 34-year-old Mark Wood, who has been preferred to uncapped Nottinghamshire quick Dillon Pennington, long earmarked for Australia, England clearly could not risk taking three veterans on a gruelling five-match tour. When Stokes was asked why Woakes was being treated differently to Anderson, he hesitated, before saying: 'I don't know how to explain it properly without being ageist' For those furious Anderson has had his career ended against his will, the sight of him helping out at training at a venue where his 73 Test wickets cost just 19 apiece cannot have helped Trent Bridge, of course, is where the Bazball revolution properly began two years ago, when Jonny Bairstow hammered New Zealand to all corners on the final afternoon of the second Test.
Ben Stokes credits England's dominant style of play for New Zealand series win
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