Flower gambles by allowing Anderson to return home for childbirth

LONDON - England head coach Andy Flower has admitted that allowing Jimmy Anderson to return home for the birth of his child is a big gamble.

Flower said Anderson might be affected by two round-the-world flights in five days.

Stuart Broad, England’s other new-ball bowler, has already been ruled out of the Ashes series with a torn stomach muscle.

“The Anderson situation is not ideal. But we try to get the balance right between our commitments to England and our responsibilities to the individual and his family. Really, in the scheme of things, his wife and kids come first,” The Sun quoted Flower, as saying.

“He’ll suffer from a bit of jet lag - it’s not ideal but that’s what we’re dealing with. We’ve set a precedent for allowing players to go home for a birth,” he said.

Anderson is due to link up with his teammates in Perth on Monday three days before the Third Test begins.

England is likely to pick Chris Tremlett as Broad’s replacement. (ANI)