England v Pakistan: ‘Great opportunity’ for Jake Ball to open bowling alongside Stuart Broad at Lord’s

The Nottinghamshire fast bowler has been given the nod ahead of Middlesex quickie Toby Roland-Jones for the first Test. James Anderson was not selected despite bowling in the nets at Lord’s on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Jake Ball, left, of England fields during the England nets session at Lord's Cricket Ground on July 13, 2016 in London, England. Tom Shaw/Getty Images

England v Pakistan, 1st Test, Lord’s, Thursday, 2pm (UAE time)

Jake Ball will make his England Test debut against Pakistan at Lord's on Thursday.

The Nottinghamshire fast bowler has been given the nod ahead of Middlesex quickie Toby Roland-Jones for the first Test.

Ball, 25, will open the bowling alongside Stuart Broad in the absence of James Anderson, who was not selected despite bowling in the nets at Lord’s on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Captain Alastair Cook revealed Anderson missed out as a precaution to protect his shoulder injury, but he will be available for the second Test at Old Trafford.

“Jake will make his debut. Unfortunately Jimmy has missed out but it’s a great opportunity for Jake,” Cook said.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how he goes. He’s had a great year with Notts and looks a fine bowler.

“He’s got wicket-taking balls in him, the ability to get good players out on flat wickets, and he puts the ball in good areas with good pace.”

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Anderson, 33, England’s leading Test wicket-taker, sustained a stress fracture to his right shoulder blade against Sri Lanka last month.

He went through his paces in the nets along with Ben Stokes, who is also closing in on a full return having played as a batsman only for Durham since knee surgery.

Cook revealed Anderson was close to making the squad, but that the selectors did not want to risk the world No 1 bowler’s fitness.

“He’s not [bowling] quite at full pace, and I think the risk of going into five-day Test match with that injury, an injury that not too many people have had, just had a bit of a doubt about it,” Cook added.

“I think the selectors decided that there are three other games, and he should be fit for Old Trafford.

“They were concerned that if he did have one of those stints at Lord’s, on a flat wicket, he could be bowling 30-odd overs and we are not quite sure how his shoulder will stand up to that. That’s the reason the selectors gave to me.

“It’s disappointing, but what is encouraging is that when we first saw the scans it could have been a lot longer, so it’s encouraging that he’s almost in.”

Cook was eager to draw a line under the major talking point of the opening Test, the return of Pakistan bowler Mohammed Amir.

Amir, now 24, will resume his Test career on the very ground where he was caught deliberately bowling no-balls in 2010 and for which he served a five-year ban.

England’s past clashes with Pakistan have often simmered with hostility but Cook is eager for this series to be remembered for cricket, rather than controversy.

“I’ve said all along that he’s served his time, he was punished for what he did in 2010 and when you do that, the consequences that go with it, he’s dealt with it,” Cook said.

“I’ve said all along I don’t think match-fixers should be allowed to play but at the time he was given his punishment, he’s served it so he’s entitled to come back. He’s served his time.

“I just hope that we can concentrate on the cricket now. It’s the big story about this Test match, but I thought the way both sides played in the UAE [in 2015] that the spirit between us was different to in the past, and I hope we can carry that on and talk about the cricket.”

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