INJURY WORRIES

James Anderson to have scan on groin injury

by Rob Johnston • Last updated on

Anderson has missed eight of England's last 23 Tests and did not play a full part in England's winter tours © Getty

James Anderson will have a scan on Monday (May 22) after injuring his groin in Lancashire's County Championship match with Yorkshire. The injury could put in doubt his participation in the first Test of the summer against South Africa at Lord's beginning on July 7.

Although Anderson will not bowl in the rest of the Roses match, it is believed the injury is not as bad as first feared. With six weeks remaining before the first Test against South Africa, Anderson should get enough time to recover but it is yet another injury for England's highest Test wicket-taker. The 34 year-old has missed eight of England's last 23 Test matches and did not play a full part in England's winter tours because of shoulder issues which also affected him last summer against Pakistan.

Anderson had, however, shown no signs of discomfort in that area during his ten appearances so far this season for Lancashire, two in the Championship alongside eight one-day games, during which he has taken 15 wickets. Lancashire have four Championship matches before the Lord's Test and the England camp is hopeful that Anderson will be able to use at least some of those games to prove his fitness.

England's selectors will be unlikely to risk him should he be unable to take part in some Championship cricket ahead of the first Test. Last summer, they asked Anderson to prove his fitness for Lancashire rather than select him in the team for the Lord's Test against Pakistan even when he had declared himself fit.

With 467 Test wickets to his name, Anderson remains one of England's first choice bowlers in Test cricket and will lead the attack, fitness permitting, in this winter's Ashes. In 2016, he took 41 wickets at 23.73 in 12 Tests which proves that he is still a fine operator at international level. With a gruelling seven Tests this summer, however, and a body beginning to show signs of wear and tear, it is likely that England's selectors will rest him at some stage, probably against the West Indies at the back-end of the season.

© Cricbuzz

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