“The second Test is a possibility”

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

England have been given some good news ahead of their five-Test series against India, which starts next Wednesday, as pace bowler James Anderson will join the national team after recovering from a shoulder injury.

Anderson underwent numerous fitness tests in Loughborough over the past week and convinced England’s medical staff that he had sufficiently recovered from a stress fracture of the shoulder blade in his right shoulder.

However, even though Anderson will miss the first Test in Rajkot, England captain Alastair Cook admitted that the veteran’s presence will be a major boost for the team.

“It’s really good news, he’s probably a week ahead of where we thought he was going to be,” Cook said. “He’s ready to come out, so it’s about trying to get him out to Rajkot as quick as we can.

“It’s about him acclimatising and getting some time in the nets. It’s great that he’s put the effort in, rather than take the easy option and come back in July, he wants to make a difference in this series.”

It is understood that Anderson may only make his return in the third Test in Mohali at the end of the month, but when asked if that could change, Cook hinted that the 34-year-old, who is England’s highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, could be fit enough to feature in the second Test, which starts on November 17 in Visakhapatnam.

“We will not know until we see him, but just chatting to him yesterday and a couple of days before, the second Test is a possibility,” Cook said. “We’ll know more when his body reacts to being here.”