England bowler James Anderson set to miss next two Ashes Tests with calf injury

Blow: Anderson is almost certain to miss the Tests at Lord's and Headingley
PA
Will Macpherson2 August 2019

England have carried out further assessment on the calf injury James Anderson suffered just four overs into the Ashes amid fears that he will miss a significant chunk of the series.

Anderson went for a scan yesterday, the full results of which are still being examined. But he did some running on the outfield with the medical staff and looks set to bat if needed, while his long-time opening partner Stuart Broad even suggested he could bowl again in the match.

That seems unlikely and he looks almost certain to miss at least the next two Tests, at Lord’s on August 14 and Headingley eight days later.

A more realistic return date would be at Old Trafford on September 4.

“He will be working desperately hard on ice and rehab,” Broad said this morning. “He said to me last night that there’s a chance he might bowl second innings.

“If the scan comes back and there’s no major mark on it, he will strap it up and go. One thing we know about Jimmy is that if there’s a chance of him bowling he will bowl.”

England have received more bad news, with World Cup winner Mark Wood ruled out of the series. He has a side injury, but has also had a minor knee operation and does not appear likely to play again this season.

Anderson turned 37 on Tuesday and, with 575 wickets, is the leading pace bowler in the Test wicket charts.

Joe Root confidently declared this week that this would not be his final

summer in Test cricket, but this is his second right calf injury this summer, while he has chronic right-shoulder issues that cause him pain when carrying out tasks as simple as brushing his teeth.

He suffered a tear to the muscle playing for Lancashire against Durham at the start of the month, which ruled him out of the one-off match against Ireland last week. His preparations for the Ashes were hampered by rain this week, which limited the amount he could bowl.

In his fourth over yesterday morning, Anderson felt his calf again, and left the field. He returned, but it was decided at lunch that he should undergo a scan, the full results of which are still being examined by England’s medical staff.

This injury appears to be a little higher than the previous tear. In Anderson’s absence, a brilliant century from Steve Smith, his ninth against England, saw Australia recover from 122 for eight to 284 all out. Stuart Broad, who took five wickets to move to 449 in Tests and 100 in the Ashes, revealed that a distraught Anderson had apologised to the bowlers at the close of play.

“He’s not had the results back yet but he’s down, he’s frustrated, and he’s said sorry to the bowlers — not that he has to,” he said. “He’s down in the dumps as he feels he’s let the bowling group down but he hasn’t — niggles are part of bowling.”

Anderson and Wood’s injuries will make England even more desperate to get Jofra Archer fit. He is playing for Sussex tonight, as well as against Gloucestershire in the next week. Having been on the white-ball treadmill, he played the last of 28 first-class games in September, so England want him to prove his fitness before throwing him into a game.

If Archer des not get the nod for his Test bow, Sam Curran or Olly Stone would be in line for a return.

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