James Anderson says Stuart Broad’s move to first change is ‘good option’ for England

James Anderson says Stuart Broad is “disappointed” to be moved from new-ball duties in the warm-up matches for the first Test against New Zealand, but believes the change could be a “good option”.

Mark Wood had taken the new ball ahead of Broad in the pink-ball warm-up with Chris Woakes doing the job in the final warm-up in Hamilton.

Anderson, who continued to open the bowling, told Sky Sports News: “Obviously he [Broad] is disappointed. He’s a very proud bloke. We’ve opened the bowling together for a number of years.

“He has bowled first change in the past and I can see what Joe [Root] wants to do with looking to the future, but also having that experience to come on first change.”

Broad came under criticism for England’s Ashes defeat after he took just 11 wickets from 195 overs bowled in the five-match series.

But Anderson has backed the 31-year-old, whose next Test wicket will be his 400th, to return to form in the two-match New Zealand Test series, which starts Thursday, live on Sky Sports.

“Stuart has done a lot of work on his action during the time off between the Ashes and now,” he said. “He has looked a different bowler in the last two games we’ve played.

“He looks refreshed, confident, his action looks really strong and he’s getting the ball to move away from the right-handers, which is something he struggled a little bit with in recent times.

“He’s looking really threatening and I think it’s a good option to potentially have him coming on first change.”

Watch England take on New Zealand in the first of two Test matches live on Sky Sports Cricket from 12am on Thursday, March 22.

(c) Sky News 2018: James Anderson says Stuart Broad’s move to first change is ‘good option’ for England