I was angered to see him taken on the last two winter tours - both of which were inevitably going to be played under conditions which were never going to lend a great deal of assistance to a bowler of his type.
He has had to toil incredibly hard and pointlessly for poor returns on the Indian sub-continent. Fast bowlers put a huge strain onto their skeletal structure. He should clearly have been saved for the English conditions in which he thrives.
As sure as eggs is eggs - there was a nigh on inevitable catastrophe just waiting to happen - and happen it did.
Yesterday, just 5.3 overs into his first spell, Jimmy suffered a severe groin strain. The breakdown probably means that he will be unable to bowl again in the Roses Match at Old Trafford.
The First Test against South Africa is only three weeks away. I truly fear that he will not be available and the first signs of the end of his illustrious career are beginning to show through.
I sincerely hope that I'm wrong!
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