James Anderson ruled out of fourth Ashes Test at Trent Bridge
Friday 31 July 2015 17:30, UK
England fast bowler James Anderson has been ruled out of the fourth Investec Ashes Test at Trent Bridge.
Anderson suffered a side strain while bowling in the evening session of the second day of the ongoing third Test at Edgbaston.
He will play no further part in Birmingham.
His absence at Trent Bridge will be keenly felt – it is one of his favourite grounds to bowl at because the conditions generally help swing bowling.
The England medical team will continue to assess him and he has not yet been ruled out of the fifth Test at the Oval.
An ECB statement read: "Anderson will be unavailable for the fourth Test beginning on Thursday 6 August at Trent Bridge and his availability for the final Test in the series will be determined in due course."
Team-mate Stuart Broad says the England camp is still hoping Anderson could feature at the Oval.
"He's actually a bit more positive than when he came off the pitch yesterday," Broad told Sky Sports. "I spoke to him after he bowled a ball and he said: 'I think I've gone in the side here.'
"So we then thought he'd be out - well, it's normally eight weeks. He got back from a scan last night and he was quite confident that he'd be okay for the Oval."
Mark Wood, who was left out of the team for the third Test and replaced by Steven Finn, should be fit to return to the side to replace Anderson at Nottingham.
England could, however, go for an out-and-out swing bowler, given the match is at Trent Bridge.
Other contenders could be Durham's Chris Rushworth - the leading wicket-taker in county cricket this season - Yorkshire's Jack Brooks and Liam Plunkett, Derbyshire's Mark Footitt, and Warwickshire's Chris Woakes.
Watch the fourth Ashes Test from Trent Bridge from Thursday August 6 live on Sky Sports Ashes HD. You can also watch the fourth Test with a NOW TV Sports Day Pass. Plus, our Ashes Events Centre - the best of Sky Cricket's analysis at your fingertips - is available on our iPad app.
