England Put Their Faith In Ageing Attack For Must-win Ashes Clash

James Anderson returns on his Old Trafford home ground to lead an ageing England attack in a must-win fourth Ashes Test. It is the only change for Ben Stokes's men, 2-1 down with two to play. England have dropped Ollie Robinson, who suffered a back spasm as the hosts won the third Test by three wickets at Headingley. Anderson is reinstated just a fortnight short of his 41st birthday for the match starting Wednesday. Anderson's 688 wickets are the most by any paceman in Test history. Only spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne are ahead of the Lancashire swing bowler.

But Anderson managed just three wickets as England fell 2-0 behind. He is now, however, set to be the cornerstone of the oldest pace attack in an Ashes match since the Australia line-up of 1928.

That was the last time either side deployed four seamers aged 33 or above, with Stuart Broad (37), Chris Woakes (34) and express quick Mark Wood (33) joining Anderson in England's seam-bowling quartet.

England's seasoned campaigners also include all-rounder Moeen Ali.

"I was always told that old was gold," the 36-year-old Moeen said Monday. "But it's not just old, it's Jimmy, it's Broady, Woakesy, Woody -- they're really good bowlers.

"Myself...you never know what you're going to get, but with those guys, you definitely know how good they are."

Only a few weeks ago, Moeen was retired from Test cricket but an injury to frontline spinner Jack Leach led to his recall.

With Ollie Pope sidelined by a dislocated shoulder, Moeen finds himself in the key position of number three, with star batsman Joe Root preferring number four. Emerging talent Harry Brook made a decisive 75 at number five at Headingley.

Moeen only managed five at first-wicket down in the second