Anderson in fight to be fit for first Test
JIMMY Anderson is facing a race to be fit for the first Test of the summer after scans revealed he has a tear in his right groin.
England’s leading wicket-taker pulled up sharply and collapsed to the ground in agony while running in to bowl during his sixth over on the opening morning of Lancashire’s Specsavers County Championship match against Yorkshire at Emirates Old Trafford on Friday.
He went straight off the field, and didn’t bowl again in the game - which ended in a draw.
However, he did bat with a runner on the final day, suggesting the injury wasn’t too bad.
The 34-year-old went for a scan at the end of the game on Monday evening, and it showed a tear.
It means he is certainly out of Lancashire’s next Championship match - the return against Yorkshire at Headingley which starts a week on Friday.
But he is facing a lay-off of around four to six weeks.
“A scan has confirmed that Lancashire and England seamer Jimmy Anderson has a tear to his right groin,” said a statement from Lancashire.
“He will be fully assessed on Wednesday by the ECB medical team to understand the extent of his injury.
“He will miss Lancashire’s Specsavers County Championship Division One match against Yorkshire at Headingley commencing on Friday, June 2.”
England’s first Test against South Africa starts on July 6, but coach Trevor Bayliss will surely be keen for Anderson to test out the injury with a game for Lancashire before putting him straight back into the side.
It is a blow to Lancashire too, who had hoped to have him available for the next three County Championship matches before the start of the Test series.
England have a busy summer, with series against South Africa and the West Indies, followed by the Ashes in Australia next winter.