Major boost for England as James Anderson reveals he expects to be fit for second Test against India
Veteran seamer James Anderson has handed England a major boost by revealing that he expects to be ready for frontline action during the second Test against India, which starts in Visakhapatnam on 17 November.
Anderson, who is England’s leading Test wicket-taker with 463 scalps, is closing in on full fitness after being ruled out of last month’s Bangladesh series with a stress fracture to his right shoulder.
The 34-year-old was sidelined for the start of the series with India and it was feared he could miss the first three matches of the five-Test showdown, but he is hopeful of reprising his role as the leader of England’s pace attack next week.
“I had a good week up at Loughborough last week bowling to get some overs under my belt and hopefully I can keep that going this week and get some miles into my legs to make sure I’m as fit as I can be and maybe fit for the second Test,” said Anderson.
“The stress fracture has healed now and hopefully that will last. We initially thought maybe the fourth Test against India was a possibility but the way I’ve progressed over the last three or four weeks has been positive.”
Anderson’s last Test appearance came against Pakistan at the Kia Oval in August, and while he has been forced to miss a number of matches this year through injury, the Lancastrian believes his experience will make a return to the side seamless.
“I think at the tender age of 34 I’ve got enough experience to get into match mode quite quickly,” he added. “It is not always easy without having any games under my belt, but I think I am able to do that.”