Broad bowls into history, Anderson remains absent

Stuart Broad entered an exclusive club on Saturday but it is the fitness of his long-time partner in crime James Anderson that remains the talking point out of the England camp.

With the wicket of David Warner for eight in his second over on day three at Edgbaston, Broad became the seventh bowler in history to take 450 Test wickets.

Broad achieved the feat in his 128th match for England, having already claimed his 100th Ashes wicket when he captured 5-86 in Australia's first innings on Thursday.

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Most Test wickets

800 – Muthiah Muralidaran

708 – Shane Warne

619 – Anil Kumble

575 – James Anderson

563 – Glenn McGrath

519 – Courtney Walsh

450 – Stuart Broad

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He is the second Englishman in the 450 club alongside veteran Anderson, whose short-term future remains clouded after re-injuring his hamstring on day one in Birmingham.

Anderson bowled just four overs before leaving the field and heading for scans on a tight right calf, the same muscle that suffered a low-grade tear playing for Lancashire a month ago.

The 37-year-old batted for 27 minutes in the afternoon session on day three and was seen bowling before play and at lunch. But when England took the field for Australia's second innings with a 90-run lead, youngster Sam Curran was part of the XI as a sub fielder in place of Anderson.

With Anderson sidelined, Broad shared the new ball with seam bowler Chris Woakes, who did not sound optimistic about Anderson's participation in the remainder of the match and perhaps for the rest of the Ashes series.

"I was gutted for Jimmy, he's obviously dying to play more than anyone and wants to play more than anyone," Woakes said after play.

"But it (Anderson's calf) wasn't right which was unfortunate for him and unfortunate for us as a team with him being the best fast bowler that's ever lived, in my opinion, with the amount of wickets he's taken and all that.

"(His absence) is a bit of a blow but at the same time us as a unit have to go out there and try to do the job.

"Moving forward, I actually don't know. The fact he hasn't taken much part in the game so far doesn't look too promising. but I actually don't know."

Anderson could now be in a race against time to be fit for the second Test at Lord's, which starts on August 14.

However, the results of the Englishman's scans have not been revealed, meaning the severity of the injury remains a mystery.

It appears unlikely he will return this Test, and the Australians will aim to capitalise as they look to set England a difficult run chase having finished day three at 3-124, leading by 34 with Steve Smith and Travis Head at the crease.

"If we can bat all day tomorrow we'll more than likely take a good lead," said Australia pace bowler James Pattinson.

"With England being a bowler down as well, it makes it hard.

"They're going to have to rely on (allrounder Ben) Stokes to bowl more overs and the others who have already clocked up over 20 overs in the first innings.

"That's as simple as it gets for us. Whoever gets the opportunity has to bat long.

"We know we'll make runs if we stay out there and really put great value on our wicket."

2019 Qantas Ashes Tour of England

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.

England squad: Joe Root (c), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes (vc), Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.

First Test: August 1-5,Edgbaston

Tour match: Australians v Worcestershire, August 7-9

Second Test: August 14-18,Lord's

Third Test: August 22-26, Headingley

Tour match: Australians v Derbyshire, August 29-31

Fourth Test: September 4-8, Old Trafford

Fifth Test: September 12-16, The Oval