Veteran England fast bowler James Anderson has been ruled out of the second Ashes Test match scheduled at Lord’s Cricket Ground. The Test match will be played from 14 August.
Notably, James Anderson had torn his right calf muscle when he was playing for Lancashire against Durham in the County Cricket Circuit. This injury had earlier ruled him out of cricketing action for several weeks. Anderson even missed out on England’s four day Test match against Ireland at Lord’s prior to the beginning of the Ashes.
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However, Anderson was named in England Playing XI for the first Ashes Test at Birmingham’s Edgbaston Cricket Ground. When it seemed like he could well be the difference in the Ashes Series, he again experienced discomfort when he was bowling his fourth over of the match on Day 1 itself and did not bowl after that, although he came out to bat in both the innings.
On Tuesday, it was further declared that he won’t be available for selection in the Lord’s test match either.
“As a result of the injury, he will commence a rehabilitation programme working with the England and Lancashire medical teams. He will be reassessed on an ongoing basis regarding his availability for the rest of Specsavers Ashes series,” the ECB statement said.
England have already lost the first Test match by a huge margin of 284 runs and with Anderson being ruled out of the second Test, chances are that captain Joe Root might have to turn towards Jofra Archer and hand him his debut game to try and strengthen their pace bowling attack.