Graham Thorpe praises "phenomenal" James Anderson as seamer prepares for 150th Test

Anderson has not played Test cricket since leaving the field at Edgbaston on the first morning of the summer’s Ashes series, having injured his calf just four overs into his opening spell against the Australians

Graham Thorpe has highlighted the importance of James Anderson to England’s chances in their Test series against South Africa after the Lancashire seamer came through two warm-up games to prove his fitness.

Anderson has not played Test cricket since leaving the field at Edgbaston on the first morning of the summer’s Ashes series, having injured his calf just four overs into his opening spell against the Australians.

With Stuart Broad, Jofra Archer and Jack Leach all struggling with illness, however, the significance of a fit Anderson – the most successful fast bowler in Test history – has only increased ahead of the four-match series against Faf du Plessis’ side.

The hosts are a team revitalised, with Mark Boucher, Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis all having taken up prominent roles in the coaching and management setup in recent days following a series of off-field controversies that left Cricket South Africa at crisis point.

Anderson and Thorpe were teammates when England won in South Africa in 2004/05, while Smith, Kallis and Boucher were part of the home team; Thorpe played all five Tests, with Anderson playing at Johannesburg, dismissing Boucher and Herschelle Gibbs, in what was his 12th Test. It was Thorpe’s final tour as an England player, while Anderson will make his 150th Test appearance at Centurion on Boxing Day.

“It’s phenomenal,” Thorpe said. “To think he’s here 15 years later and still performing, it’s great to have him back out there because as we just saw in his spell today, he’s very skillful, he keeps it tight and he creates opportunities.

“That is the type of bowler we’ll want over here; he’ll benefit from a little bit of that extra carry as well.”

The 37-year-old recorded figures of 3 for 41 from his 19 overs in the second practice match against a South Africa A XI, where his workload was increased by the absence of his unwell teammates.

^{James Anderson will play his first Test under new head coach Chris Silverwood}

While their selectability remains a concern, England’s batting has shown signs of promise – both in New Zealand and in the warmup games in South Africa.

Thorpe, the squad’s batting coach, has placed emphasis on individuals taking responsibility; Ollie Pope and Joe Denly both reached three figures against South Africa A, while Joe Root made a double century and Rory Burns a hundred of his own during the Test series against the Blackcaps.

“We’re trying to have conversations about getting big first innings scores,” Thorpe told Sky Sports. “How we go about getting that? That’s up to the individual. It’s about having enough tools in your back pocket when you get out to the middle to be able to make those decisions.

“So, being tough and making those hard decisions as a player when you get a good spell coming at you, can you get through it? But when you get in, we want you to be able to dominate the bowler and put big scores on the board individually and from a team point of view.

“Every player from my point of view can choose their own way. I think it’s recognising situations in a Test match when someone is bowling well at you – a different style – and adapting as well as a player.

“Those conversations are going on and we trust the players in terms of the work that they’re doing. Putting a price on your wicket but also, when you’re on top, making sure you take advantage. That means getting a big score individually that’s going to benefit the team as well.”

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