Brendon McCullum explains James Anderson’s absence in Pakistan after England bowling mentor is pictured playing golf

Brendon McCullum has defended James Anderson’s information astatine the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, a determination which means the England bowling mentor volition miss the commencement of the side’s Test bid with Pakistan.

England’s three-match circuit of Pakistan begins successful Multan connected Monday and forms portion of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25.

McCullum’s men, who presently beryllium 4th successful the table, completed a singular 3-0 whitewash connected their erstwhile circuit of Pakistan backmost successful 2022 and volition beryllium looking to replicate that again this month.

However, the touring broadside volition beryllium without manager Anderson for the commencement of the archetypal Test, with the erstwhile England plaything bowler alternatively taking portion successful the Pro-Am lawsuit astatine the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship successful Scotland.

Pictures of Anderson of teeing disconnected astatine St Andrews person received immoderate disapproval from fans and pundits but McCullum insists helium does not person immoderate ‘concerns’ astir the 42-year-old’s lack for England’s preparations successful Pakistan.

‘Well Ithought helium was going to miss the cut, his golf’s been poor!’ McCullum joked.

‘Two months agone you guys were saying that helium didn’t merit to beryllium a manager conscionable yet and present it’s benignant of similar we’re missing him.

‘I deliberation it’s large affirmation of however bully an interaction Jimmy Anderson has made successful the abbreviated play of clip that he’s transitioned from subordinate to coach.’

McCullum added: ‘I deliberation we unrecorded successful a satellite wherever you tin inactive pass without being look to face.

‘He’ll beryllium present connected time 2 oregon whenever it is and I don’t person immoderate concerns implicit it.’

McCullum revealed that it was a ‘combined decision’ to let Anderson to miss the commencement of England’s circuit of Pakistan.

‘It’s a combined determination amongst everyone,’ helium continued.

‘Jimmy has conscionable taken to the coaching world, he’s made a immense modulation from a 20-odd-year vocation into present this caller role.

‘He’s connected arsenic a bowling advisor arsenic well, he’s not connected a full-time declaration and we’ll instrumentality what we tin get erstwhile we tin get it.

‘These guys inactive person to unrecorded their lives. As we know, the challenges and demands of planetary cricket with the calendar mean that you person to beryllium capable to spell retired and bask yourself arsenic well.

‘I deliberation if helium was astatine location with his household I’d question whether anyone would person immoderate problems with it. But due to the fact that he’s playing play there’s immoderate uncertainty astir it.’

England participate the bid connected the backmost of a palmy summertime backmost home, with McCullum’s broadside defeating the West Indies 3-0 successful July earlier beating Sri Lanka 2-1 past month.

The visiting squad volition beryllium without skipper and all-rounder, Ben Stokes, who is inactive recovering from the torn hamstring helium suffered portion playing successful The Hundred.

Batter Ollie Pope took implicit the work successful Stokes’ lack against Sri Lanka and volition proceed successful the relation successful Pakistan this month.

For much stories similar this, check our athletics page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest quality connected Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

MORE : Gareth Bale near stunned aft canine runs onto people and steals his play shot during tournament

MORE : Pro golfer, 71, becomes oldest subordinate to vie successful PGA Tour lawsuit successful 15 years

MORE : Barry Hearn sets purpose for snooker and darts prize wealth to overtake immense sport