England bank on ageing attack of James Anderson for must-win Old Trafford test

James Anderson 40 returns on his Old Trafford home ground to lead an ageing England attack in a mustwin fourth Ashes Test It is the only change for Ben Stokesrsquos men 12 down with two to playEngland have dropped Ollie Robinson who suffered a back spasm as the hosts won the third Test by three wickets at HeadingleyAnderson is reinstated just a fortnight short of his 41st birthday for the match starting Wednesday Andersonrsquos 688 wickets are the most by any paceman in Test historyOnly spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne are ahead of the Lancashire swing bowler But Anderson managed just three wickets as England fell 02 behindOldest pace attackHe is now however set to be the cornerstone of the oldest pace attack in an Ashes match since the Australia lineup of 1928 That was the last time either side deployed four seamers aged 33 or above with Stuart Broad 37 Chris Woakes 34 and express quick Mark Wood 33 joining Anderson in Englandrsquos seambowling quartetEnglandrsquos seasoned campaigners also include allrounder Moeen Ali ldquoI was always told that old was goldrdquo the 36yearold Moeen said on MondayldquoBut itrsquos not just old itrsquos Jimmy itrsquos Broady Woakesy Woodymdashtheyrsquore really good bowlers Myselfyou never know what yoursquore going to get but with those guys you definitely know how good they arerdquoAlso Read No doubt England are better with Anderson Moeen Ali ahead of fourth Ashes 2023 TestOnly a few weeks ago Moeen was retired from Test cricket but an injury to frontline spinner Jack Leach led to his recall With Ollie Pope sidelined by a dislocated shoulder Moeen finds himself in the key position of number three with star batsman Joe Root preferring number fourBrookrsquos crucial 75Emerging talent Harry Brook made a decisive 75 at number five at Headingley Moeen only managed five at firstwicket down in the second innings at Headingley but England are keeping him there after resisting calls for either captain Stokes or wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow who has struggled with both bat and gloves this series to move up the order It is nearly seven years since Moeenmdashwho has batted in every position from one to nine in his 66Test careermdashscored the last of his five centuries at this level ldquoIf Irsquom playing well and I get in I have made Test hundreds before and itrsquos not like I canrsquot do itrdquo said Moeen who added ldquoBut things happen for a reasonIrsquom a big one on faith and destinyrdquoAustralia have yet to name their XI as Pat Cummins bids to lead the world Test champions to their first Ashes series win in England since 2001 Veteran opener David Warner twice fell cheaply at Headingley to Broad who has dismissed the Australian opener 17 times in Test cricket Warner and middle order mainstays Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith have just one hundred and one fifty between them in 18 inningsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever