Jimmy Anderson’s fitness for the start of England’s four-Test series against Pakistan has been placed in doubt because of a stress fracture sustained in his right shoulder blade on the final day of the third Test against Sri Lanka, though the England and Wales Cricket Board anticipates that the injury will have recovered sufficiently in time for the opening day against Waqar Younis’s team at Lord’s on 14 July.
The country’s leading wicket-taker will miss Lancashire’s County Championship game against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge on 3 July but England are hopeful he will have recovered from the injury in time for the opening Test 11 days later.
Anderson suffered the stress fracture in his final delivery during the rain-interrupted last day against Sri Lanka but it is understood he had been troubled by shoulder pain before it occurred.
He claimed 21 wickets during the three-Test series against Sri Lanka, which England won 2-0.
