Eng vs Ind fifth Test | England recalls Anderson for delayed final Test against India

Friday’s match should have been played in Manchester last September but was postponed due to COVID concerns in Indian camp.

England have recalled James Anderson for the delayed fifth Test against India at Edgbaston on Friday.

The paceman missed the conclusion of England’s series whitewash of New Zealand when an ankle injury ruled him out of the third Test at Headingley. 

But the 39-year-old, England’s all-time record Test wicket taker, will return to the side against India even though replacement Jamie Overton scored 97 on his debut in Leeds.

“That’s how sport at the top level works sometimes,” England captain Ben Stokes told reporters on Thursday.

“It must be very disappointing for him (Overton) but he can walk away knowing he did everything he could.”

In another change to an England team announced almost 24 hours ahead of the toss, Sam Billings will take over as wicketkeeper. Billings was called up at short notice during the New Zealand series finale for his second Test appearance as a Covid-19 substitute for first-choice gloveman Ben Foakes, who was also hampered by a stiff back at Headingley.

“Unfortunately Foakesy hasn’t recovered as well as we’d have liked him to,” said Stokes.