English cricketer James Anderson is on his way home from Australia to attend the birth of his second child - and will rejoin his England team-mates in Perth in their bid to retain the Ashes in next week's Test, starting on Thursday.
England coach Andy Flower confirmed this morning that Anderson flew from Adelaide last night, just hours after helping England win the second Test there by an innings and 71 runs and therefore go 1-0 up with three matches to play against Australia.
The 28-year-old is the latest of several England players to have temporarily left an overseas tour in similar circumstances - following the examples set previously by Andrew Strauss, Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen among others.
But none has previously undertaken such a long trip, and it is convenient that England have a mid-tour break between Tests.
Flower said: “He left last night, and he's going to be there for the birth of his child. We hope everything goes well, and he'll be back a few days before the Perth Test.”
Explaining England's policy, Flower added: “We've got to try to balance what's important to our cricket team and also what's important to these guys in their personal lives.
“Their family lives, relationships and children obviously come above cricket.
“We've set a precedent in the past for making sure that people can be back home for the birth of a child, if possible, if that's what they want. If that's not necessary in their particular circumstances then it would be great to have everyone here all the time.
“But he should be back and in working order for the third Test.” -
Belfast Telegraph
THE SPORTSMEN WHO REFUSED TO MISS THE BIRTH OF THEIR CHILDREN
THE CRICKETERS
Michael Vaughan (June 2004)
The captain leaves the field in the middle of the second Test against New Zealand in Headingley to attend the birth of his first child, a girl named Tallula Grace, in Sheffield. He later says he “didn’t give a toss” about the criticism for leaving mid-Test.
ANDREW STRAUSS (December 2005)
The opener and skipper-in-waiting misses the final Test against Pakistan to attend the birth of his son Sam. His captain Vaughan flies home soon after for the birth of his second child.
MATT PRIOR (February 2009)
The first-choice wicketkeeper brings his paternity leave forward by a week before the fourth Test against the West Indies in Barbados after wife Emily gives birth to the couple’s first child.
KEVIN PIETERSEN (May 2010)
KP jets home during the World Twenty20 to attend the birth of first child Ñ but he returns for the semi-final and is deservedly named the man of the tournament.
THE OTHERS
MARTIN ALLEN (March 1989)
QPR boss Trevor Francis tries to ban football player Allen from attending the birth of his first child on the eve of a vital game against Newcastle. But the midfielder heads to his wife’s side and is fined and publicly criticised by his manager.
WILL GREENWOOD (October 2003)
The England centre misses the World Cup group-stage clash with Samoa due to problems with his wifeÕs pregnancy back in England, but returns to Australia for the knockout stages.
XABI ALONSO (March 2008)
Alonso puts his Liverpool future in doubt by missing the vital Champions League match against Inter Milan for birth of his baby boy, much to the fury of boss Rafa Benitez who refuses to let him join up with the squad late.
FERNANDO TORRES (December 2010)
The striker misses the thrashing of Aston Villa when his wife went into labour . - Daily Mail