England concerns over Anderson injury

CRICKET

LANCASHIRE’S James Anderson will be sent for scans on a side injury after struggling through England’s dramatic win over South Africa.

The Red Rose seamer took seven wickets in the second Test at

Newlands but was visibly labouring as the game reached its conclusion, spending time off the field in the middle session and managing just two overs after tea.

He grimaced through those and, although he remained involved and took a key catch at leg-slip to dismiss Rassie Van Der Dussen, captain Joe Root confirmed there were now doubts over his fitness.

“He’ll go for a scan, get some treatment and we’ll see how he pulls up going into the next Test in Port Elizabeth,” said Root.

“It’s his side, but it could be just a little niggle. It could be a 24 to 48-hour thing or it could be something else.

“Until we have more information we’ll just treat it as best we can and fingers crossed he’s not another casualty of this tour.”

Anderson has only just returned after missing all but four overs of the Ashes with a reoccurence of a calf injury which he picked up playing for Lancashire in a

Specsavers County Championship match against Durham.

At the age of 37,

England will be careful not to push Anderson if the scan shows a problem. Side strains are notoriously difficult for veteran seamers to recover from.

England will also await the match referee’s verdict on an exchange between Lancashire wicketkeeper Jos Buttler and Vernon Philander, with Buttler likely to find himself in the dock after the stump microphone picked up a colourful piece of sledging.

“I was a bit gutted I missed out but I don’t think it was anything too serious,” joked Root.

“It was two guys playing hard Test cricket. I don’t think anyone overstepped the mark.”