Brendon McCullum has defended James Anderson’s participation in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, a decision which means the England bowling mentor will miss the start of the side’s Test series with Pakistan.
England’s three-match tour of Pakistan begins in Multan on Monday and forms part of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25.
McCullum’s men, who currently sit fourth in the table, completed a remarkable 3-0 whitewash on their previous tour of Pakistan back in 2022 and will be looking to replicate that again this month.
However, the touring side will be without coach Anderson for the start of the first Test, with the former England swing bowler instead taking part in the Pro-Am event at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.
Pictures of Anderson of teeing off at St Andrews have received some criticism from fans and pundits but McCullum insists he does not have any ‘concerns’ about the 42-year-old’s absence for England’s preparations in Pakistan.
‘Well Ithought he was going to miss the cut, his golf’s been poor!’ McCullum joked.
‘Two months ago you guys were saying that he didn’t deserve to be a coach just yet and now it’s sort of like we’re missing him.
‘I think it’s great affirmation of how good an impact Jimmy Anderson has made in the short period of time that he’s transitioned from player to coach.’
McCullum added: ‘I think we live in a world where you can still communicate without being face to face.
‘He’ll be here on day two or whenever it is and I don’t have any concerns over it.’
McCullum revealed that it was a ‘combined decision’ to allow Anderson to miss the start of England’s tour of Pakistan.
‘It’s a combined decision amongst everyone,’ he continued.
‘Jimmy has just taken to the coaching world, he’s made a huge transition from a 20-odd-year career into now this new role.
‘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 can get it.
‘These guys still have to live their lives. As we know, the challenges and demands of international cricket with the calendar mean that you have to be able to go out and enjoy yourself as well.
‘I think if he was at home with his family I’d question whether anyone would have any problems with it. But because he’s playing golf there’s some uncertainty around it.’
England enter the series on the back of a successful summer back home, with McCullum’s side defeating the West Indies 3-0 in July before beating Sri Lanka 2-1 last month.
The visiting team will be without captain and all-rounder, Ben Stokes, who is still recovering from the torn hamstring he suffered while playing in The Hundred.
Batter Ollie Pope took over the responsibility in Stokes’ absence against Sri Lanka and will continue in the role in Pakistan this month.
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