James Anderson could have played in the Boxing Day Test against South Africa but the England management were unwilling to risk exacerbating his injury, according to Stuart Broad.

Anderson was ruled out of the series opener in Durban due to a calf strain although it is hoped England’s leading wicket-taker will be fit for the second match in Cape Town on January 2.

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Broad, who will lead the attack in the Lancastrian’s absence, feels Anderson may have featured had the forthcoming encounter been a series decider, but England’s impressive back-up options meant it was a chance not worth taking.

Warwickshire’s Chris Woakes is in line to replace Anderson, having impressed with his pace and control in the early stages of the trip.

 

Broad, wearing a Santa hat, told a press conference: “Of course it’s disappointing when you lose the spearhead of your attack but I think rather than it being a serious ruled-out-of-the-series-type of thing, it’s just a slight niggle and the management have decided that it really wasn’t worth the risk in the first Test match of the series.

“We do know it’s a four-Test match series and we want him to play a part in this, and we’ve got such depth in the squad there’s not the need to take such a risk on him.

“If you speak to him I think he felt like he could have played here but there’s just something that feels slightly off with it so the management are just in not in a position at the minute that they want to take a huge risk on him.

“It could have been a different story if it was the last Test of a series.”

 

England batsman Joe Root was the only other absentee from training at Kingsmead due to an upset stomach.

It is not thought to be a serious issue and there are no concerns about his participation in the Test.