England’s James Anderson Suffers Groin Injury Ahead of Ashes

The England and Wales Cricket Board announced late on Sunday that James Anderson has suffered a “minor strain in his right groin”, just over a month before the start of the Ashes.

The 40-year-old Anderson, the most successful fast bowler in Test history with 685 wickets, was injured on the opening day of Lancashire’s County Championship match against Somerset at Old Trafford on Thursday and took no further part in the draw. on Sunday.

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The ECB said Anderson’s fitness would be assessed ahead of the one-off Test against Ireland at Lord’s starting June 1.

England are due to name a squad for the Ireland game later this week ahead of a five-match Ashes series against arch-rivals Australia, starting June 16.

Anderson had scans on the injury on Saturday, with Lancashire coach Glen Chappell telling the BBC it was “nothing serious”.

Still, England would like to avoid a repeat of the 2019 Ashes opener at Edgbaston, where Anderson bowled just four overs before tearing his calf while playing for Lancashire.

Unable to substitute bowling, his absence left a huge hole in the England attack as Australia won by 251 runs.

That series ended in a 2–2 draw, with holders Australia retaining the Ashes.

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Anderson’s latest injury adds to a growing list of fitness problems faced by England’s pace bowlers, with Jofra Archer, Olly Stone and Brydon Carse all sidelined in recent weeks.

Archer returned from the Indian Premier League with a recurrence of his old elbow problem, Stone suffered a hamstring injury while playing for Nottinghamshire and Carse, uncapped at Test level, was cut short with a side injury while playing for Durham.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)