Ashes 2023: James Anderson ‘not worried’ after groin injury in county match ahead of England vs Australia Test series

Senior England fast bowler James Anderson shared his latest injury update ahead of the one-off Test against Ireland and the Ashes series against Australia. Anderson left the field last week with a minor groin strain during the County Championship game against Lancashire. The one-off Test against Ireland will be played from June 1 while the Ashes begin on June 16. While the Ashes loomed, there were concerns about injury, the pacer was named in the Test squad for the match against Ireland and has now allayed any worries about the same.

“I’m not worried about it,” Anderson told the BBC’s Tailenders podcast, as quoted by the ICC. “It’s obviously not a great injury to have, but it’s probably the best result for what it is, because it’s a low-grade thing and I think in a couple of weeks I’ll be back to full fitness. It’s disappointing.” Because you always want to feel good and bowl enough before a series and you want to be fresh, so now trying to plan the best route through this summer.”

However, the 40-year-old said it was not ideal as he needed some game time before the big summer. The Ireland Tests start in early June but although Anderson is in the team, he doesn’t want to rush things with the Ashes coming right after. “I felt like I needed to play the game, so it’s not ideal, but I’m not stressed about it. I’m taking it day by day and seeing how it goes because obviously Well, I don’t want to risk anything by screwing it up.” I’m pretty confident that I can get it right (compared to 2019) and give the Ashes a right good crack,” concluded Anderson.

nice to be back on the field with @lancsricket, After playing well, not being able to achieve much in the first few matches is disappointing___ pic.twitter.com/Pz4dKnnW5e— James Anderson (@jimmy9) April 24, 2023

England have announced their squad for the one-off Test against Ireland which will be played at Lord’s in England from June 1. Ben Stokes will lead the 15-man squad, with right-handed batsman Ollie Pope named as the vice-captain. The England team has been boosted by the return of wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow, who was out since August last year after suffering a fractured left foot and broken ankle following a golf accident.

Ben Fox has been dropped from the team with Bairstow’s return to the team. Jofra Archer will be another notable absentee after being ruled out for the rest of the summer with a recurring stress fracture in his right elbow.

Returning fast bowlers are Mark Wood and Chris Woakes, who are returning to the Test side for the first time since March 2022. If he is selected in the playing 11, it will be his first Test on home soil in the last two years. This will be only the second Test between the two countries and will be a four-day match. Interestingly, the first match played in 2019 was also a four-day affair, which England won by 143 runs.

With the home Ashes against Australia starting on June 16, England will be hoping to get some playing time before facing their arch-rivals.

England squad: Ben Stokes (c), James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.