NEWS
Follow UsEngland’s veteran swing-bowler, James Anderson would be unavailable for the one-off Test against Ireland, starting June 1, with a groin injury. Lancashire had confirmed earlier that there was a "minor strain to his right groin", with the pacer being ruled out of that Test against Ireland.
With less than three weeks before the first Test between Australia and England at Lord’s, there was an element of doubt that surrounded the fitness levels of Anderson. However, the 40-year-old himself has confirmed that he will be back to full fitness in a couple of weeks.
"I'm not worried about it," Anderson told the BBC's Tailenders podcast.
"It's obviously not great getting injured but it's probably the best outcome for what it is, because it's a low-grade thing and I think in a couple of weeks I'll be back to full fitness," he said.
However, at the same time, the right-arm bowler expressed his ‘frustration’ insisting that it is not a good feeling to be injured before a marquee series, and ideally would have wanted to be part of the playing XI for the Test against Ireland. England have already been dealt a blow, with injury ruling Jofra Archer out of the entire home summer.
"It's frustrating because you always want to feel good and get enough bowling in before a series and you want to be fresh, so it's now about trying to plan the best route through this summer."
"I felt like I needed to play this game so it's not ideal, but I'm not stressed about it.
With Ashes around the corner, Anderson also insisted that he doesn’t want to take too many risks, and added that he hopes to get this Ashes right after the 2019 home series where he struggled.
"I'm just taking it day by day and seeing how it goes because obviously I don't want to risk anything by making it worse. I'm more confident I can get this one right [than in 2019] and give the Ashes a right good crack."
