Brendon McCullum forced to defend James Anderson after recently retired star skips coaching duties for golf
England coach Brendon McCullum has defended bowling consultant James Anderson after the legendary seamer missed the entirety of England's preparation for its Test series against Pakistan to play in a golf tournament.
England's series began on Monday October 7, with Anderson due to arrive the next day after the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship ended.
Speaking to Sky Sports' Michael Atherton, McCullum was probed on the 42-year-old's absence.
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McCullum first explained it in a joking manner but then turned it back on the media.
James Anderson and Brendon McCullum. Getty
"I thought he was going to miss the cut, he's golf's been poor. I didn't anticipate him making the cut," he said.
"Two months ago you guys were saying he didn't deserve to be a coach just yet and now we miss him and I think that's great affirmation of how good an impact Jimmy Anderson has made in the short period of time in his transition from player to coach."
The England coach then went on to state not all communication needs to be done face-to-face.
Atherton countered that response by saying it's not the same and titled it "coaching by WhatsApp".
Asked if it was his call or Anderson's, McCullum responded saying it was "a combined decision".
"Jimmy's just entered into the coaching world, he's made a huge transition from a 20-odd year career into now this new role," he continued.
"He's on as a bowling consultant as well, he's not on a full-time contract and we'll take what we can get when we get it.
"These guys still have to live there lives, as we know the challenges and demands of international cricket with the calendar mean you need to be able to go out and enjoy yourself as well. If he was at home with his family I question anyone would have any problem with it but because he's playing golf there's some uncertainty around it."
Anderson's expertise may have been missed in the first two sessions of day two after Pakistan started strongly at Multan.
Captain Shan Masood and Abdullah Shafique struck aggressive half centuries and led the positive start against a new-look England pace attack.
Left-handed Masood was unbeaten on an attractive 61 off 59 balls while Shafique struck form with 53 not out as Pakistan sped to lunch at 1-122 in 25 overs.
Masood raised his 15th Test half century off 43 balls with six boundaries and successfully overturned an onfield lbw decision through television referral which denied fast bowler Brydon Carse his first wicket on his debut.
Shafique, who struggled in Pakistan’s 2-0 loss against Bangladesh in the last series, opened up late in the first session and smashed off-spinner Shoaib Bashir for two fours and a six over long-on to raise his half century off 77 balls just before lunch.
Shan Masood during the first Test. AP
Bashir had been expensive in his six overs, going for 42 off his six overs.
Gus Atkinson, playing his first overseas Test match, gave England an early success when Saim Ayub gloved a leg-side catch in fast bowler’s second over after Masood won the toss and elected to bat.
England’s regular Test captain Ben Stokes will miss the series opener because he is yet to fully recover from a hamstring injury he sustained during the Hundred.
Stokes presented a Test cap to his Durham team-mate Carse.
Multan will host back-to-back Test matches after the second Test was shifted from Karachi due to construction work going on at the National Bank Stadium for next year’s Champions Trophy. Rawalpindi will host the third and final test from Oct. 24.
England swept Pakistan 3-0 when it toured Pakistan in 2022.
