James Anderson has emerged as an injury doubt for the first Investec Test against Pakistan next month after the ECB confirmed he will miss Lancashire's County Championship match against Nottinghamshire due to a shoulder problem on his bowling arm.

The ECB have not yet specified the full extent of the injury but it is understood to be a stress fracture, although not as serious as those which can occur in the shins.

The four-day game at Trent Bridge, starting on July 3, was set to be Anderson's one outing before the Test series against Pakistan starts at Lord's on July 14.

Anderson, England's leading Test wicket-taker, claimed 21 wickets at 10.80 in the three Tests against Sri Lanka, and despite the strength of England's pace-bowling stocks, it would be a significant blow to lose him. In 10 Tests against Pakistan, Anderson has taken 45 wickets at 17.06 - his lowest average against any team.

Anderson has had a slightly chequered injury record over the last year. He missed the final two Tests of last year's Ashes series with a side strain and then the first Test against South Africa, in Durban, due to a calf injury.

Should Anderson be forced to miss the opening Test against Pakistan, he could be replaced by Ben Stokes, who made his return for Durham in a T20 on Friday night, following knee surgery. However, Stokes is not yet ready to return to bowling duties, and England will be reluctant to rush back such a precious asset.

Jake Ball, the uncapped Nottinghamshire seamer, was part of England's squad throughout the series against Sri Lanka and would be another likely candidate to step in.