England Announce Stanford Team
James Anderson is Left Out Ahead of the $20,000,000 Match
November 1st 2008, the day that the richest game of cricket ever will be played. The prize for the winners is gargantuan. All of eleven players on the winning team will become millionaires, picking up $1,000,000 each. However, James Anderson, an England regular will not have the opportunity to win such a hefty prize.
James Anderson to Miss Stanford Match
Having taken a fifteen-man squad to the West Indies for the Stanford Super Series match-ups, there was always going to be disappointment for four players in the England squad. Unfortunately for Anderson, he will be omitted from the team for the encounter with the Stanford Superstars on Saturday. As a result of this decision, Anderson is the only player who helped England to a 4-0 ODI series win over South Africa last month to be left out of the team.
Should England leave the West Indies victorious, Anderson and the three others left out of the team will not leave empty-handed. The four of them will leave with quite a substantial amount of money, as they will split $1,000,000 between the four of them.
Conditions Affect Anderson Decision
During earlier matches in the Super Series the slower bowlers have enjoyed plenty of success, mainly due to the surface of the pitch. So, after reviewing all of their options England have made the unprecedented move to utilise a second spinner. Thanks to such a brave decision, Graeme Swann will take to the field as that second spinner. It will be his first appearance for England since June when he played against New Zealand.
Pietersen Explains England’s Selection
“It was never going to be the easiest decision, in fact I was one of the hardest I’ve had to make in terms of carrying 11 players on the field”, explained Pietersen.
England’s captain then went on to mention that the aforementioned pitch conditions were a key factor in leaving out Anderson.
“We haven’t played a second spinner for I don’t know how long but unfortunately conditions have meant Jimmy has to miss out.”
Pietersen, who earlier this week showed some signs of pressure when he stated that he just wanted this week to end, may have to answer a lot of questions should his decision to play two spinners backfire.
England Team to Face Stanford Superstars
The team that has been selected to the Stanford Superstars is as follows:
Kevin Pietersen (Captain), Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison, Samit Patel, Matt Prior (Wicketkeeper), Owais Shah, Graeme Swann, Luke Wright.
The four player that have been omitted from the team are as follows:
James Anderson, Ravi Bopara, Alastair Cook, Ryan Sidebottom
James Anderson
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