England sweating over James Anderson fitness after injury ahead of Ashes opener

15 May 2023 , 10:53

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James Anderson suffered an injury setback playing for his county, Lancashire, last week (Image: (Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images))

James Anderson has given England an injury scare ahead of the Ashes this summer, with the 40-year-old confirmed to have suffered a groin strain during a County Championship match for Lancashire.

The bowler underwent a scan having missed three days of the Championship match against Somerset, with confirmation coming that he had suffered a mild strain to his right-groin during the game. The news is highly unwelcome, with England's Ashes preparations suffering another injury blow to a key player.

Having bowled 14 overs of day one of the four-day match at Taunton, Anderson did not see any action for the final three days. While England's all-time leading wicket taker is not expected to miss the Ashes, scans have revealed an injury which will be a setback in preparations to face Australia over the next month.

Last week, fast bowler Jofra Archer was recalled from the IPL amid continued elbow problems and pacer Olly Stone was ruled out for six weeks due to an ankle injury. The first Ashes Test gets underway in a month's time at Edgbaston on June 16 and England coach Brendan McCullum will be hopeful of Anderson's recovery.

England to face Ireland in a warm-up Test at Lord's will be announced this week, with Anderson not having been ruled out despite the setback. An ECB statement read: "Lancashire and England seamer James Anderson has sustained a mild strain to his right groin during Lancashire’s LV= Insurance County Championship Division One match against Somerset at Emirates Old Trafford.

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"Anderson suffered the injury on day one on Thursday whilst bowling and stayed off the field for the remainder of the match, which ended in a draw today.

"His fitness will be assessed nearer the time of the LV= Insurance Test match against Ireland, which takes place at Lord’s starting on Thursday 1 June 2023."

England head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes face a growing injury list ahead of the Ashes ((Photo by Philip Brown/Popperfoto/Popperfoto via Getty Images))

Anderson is ranked as the number two test bowler in the world by the ICC and will be a crucial player if England are going to regain the Ashes, having not won a series against Australia since 2015. The past year has raised hope of just that, with ten wins in their last 12 Tests bringing a renewed sense of optimism to English cricket.

However, news that England's star bowler is suffering injury problems will be a big boost for the Australians, whose batting lineup will be led by the likes of Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne. Both of those players are in England already, playing County Championship cricket in preparation for what has become one of the most highly anticipated Ashes series' in recent memory.

Given Anderson's longevity in his career there will be the fear that time may be catching up with the legendary bowler ahead of what is very likely to be his final Ashes series. But he remains England's most dangerous bowler in home conditions and will hope to be lining up alongside long-time teammate Stuart Broad when the first Test comes around.

Will Freeman