James Anderson hoping to play in fifth Ashes Test

England fast bowler James Anderson remains hopeful he can play in the fifth Investec Ashes Test at the Oval.

Anderson will miss the fourth Test at Trent Bridge because of side strain suffered during England’s eight-wicket victory over Australia at Edgbaston in the third Test.

It looked at first like he had suffered an intercostal muscle strain, which normally means a minimum of six weeks out and that would have meant the end of Anderson’s series.

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But scans have shown a different, less serious injury, and the Lancashire star believes he has a chance of being available for the series finale in south London.

“I’m not going to play in the next game unfortunately but I’m hoping that I’m going to get myself fit for the Oval. That’s the aim,” he told Sky Sports Ashes.

“It’s not an intercostal – it’s a bit sore. I felt something when I bowled a ball yesterday. Stuart Broad, who has had a bit of experience of those sorts of injuries, said to me ‘don’t bowl another ball and risk it.’

“I set off for another one and I thought, ‘yeah, he’s right, I’m not going to risk it.’ I’ve never had that sort of injury before. I felt a bit stiff, but then I did feel something. And I came off.

“The last 24 hours I’ve been talking to the medical team. They are happy with me this morning. They checked me over, looked at my movement. They were happy it didn’t look too serious.”

Anderson took six first innings wickets, a feat matched by Steven Finn in the second. And the performance of the Middlesex star – two years after technical and confidence issues led to Finn being labelled ‘unselectable’ by England bowling coach Ashley Giles – drew Anderson’s praise.

“He was fantastic. He’s been bowling really well in the nets when he’s been with us for the first two games,” Anderson said.

“He came in and looked like he’s never been away. He’s gone away and taken wickets in county cricket. He bowled brilliantly in the first innings and got two crucial wickets for us – Steve Smith and Michael Clarke - early on. He carried it on in the second innings and got six.

“It was a fantastic win. The way we bounced back from the disappointment at Lord's - we lost the toss here, but the way the guys threw themselves into that first day...

"They bowled really well. To get the win was really what we needed. Hopefully now we can kick on at Trent Bridge.”

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