Jamshedpur FC gaffer Steve Coppell puts his money on James Anderson

A new season of the Indian Super League (HISL) is around the corner. The 4th edition of India’s premier football league will kick start from 17th November. Steve Coppell’s side, Jamshedpur FC will begin their campaign on November 18, and just 5 days later, England cricket team will fight against Australia in the much-awaited Ashes. Though the Three Lions’ squad may look a bit weak on paper, Coppell is ready to put his money on veteran James Anderson.

Under his coaching, Kerala Blasters reached the finals of last year’s ISL and lost the silverware tragically to ATK in penalties. However, the man from Liverpool is all set to take his new team, Jamshedpur FC to the top. Being a Lancastrian, he feels that his fellow Lancastrian Jimmy Anderson will hold the key to England’s hopes in the upcoming Ashes.

“Being born in Liverpool makes me a Lancastrian. So, I think the man from Lancashire, James Anderson, will have a major, major role to play. I think he will have a say in this Ashes series,” said the ex-Manchester United man who has scored 53 goals for the red devils, as per reports in The Telegraph.

“It’s difficult in Australia, but my money is on Anderson,” he further added. He was present at the ISL media day on November 12, which was held in the footballing capital of the nation, Kolkata.

On being asked about how big a loss will it be to not have Ben Stokes in the squad, the 62-year-old said, “Well, nowadays the privacy of a cricketer too is at stake sometimes. I don’t know which way the case is heading, but Stokes’s unavailability has certainly hampered England. So, the sooner he returns to the squad, the better it is because we all know how a terrific cricketer Stokes is.”

Captaincy shouldn’t pressurise batsman Joe Root

The ex-Director of football of Portsmouth and Crawley Town doesn’t want the captaincy responsibilities to hamper the performances of Joe Root with the bat. “I only wish captaincy doesn’t go on to pressurise the batsman in Root. England desperately need him to score big,” the former winger concluded.