Saturday 25 June 2016 12:53, UK
James Anderson is doubtful for England's first Investec Test against Pakistan next month after sustaining a stress fracture to his right shoulder blade.
The England and Wales Cricket Board has confirmed Anderson will definitely miss his scheduled return to action in Lancashire's Specsavers County Championship match against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.
That match begins on July 3, with the four-Test series against Pakistan then getting under way at Lord's only 11 days later.
Anderson, 33, injured his bowling arm during the third Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's earlier this month and his availability for the Pakistan Test series will be determined following ongoing management and review by both the ECB and Lancashire's medical teams.
As England's all-time leading Test wicket-taker, and the world's No 1 bowler too for the first time after his outstanding success in the series victory over Sri Lanka, Anderson's absence would be a major blow.
If he were not fit in time, England would need to make at least two enforced changes to the team which completed the series against Sri Lanka at Lord's this month - after it emerged two days ago that out-of-form batsman Nick Compton is to take a break from professional cricket.
Pace-bowling all-rounder Ben Stokes, who had to miss the final two Tests against Sri Lanka after pulling up in the first and then having knee surgery, returned to action as a specialist batsman in Durham's NatWest T20 Blast victory over Yorkshire on Friday.
His club and country team-mate Mark Wood, who has not played since last October's Dubai Test against Pakistan and has since had two ankle operations, is also due back for Durham this weekend.
Fast bowler Wood was part of England's Ashes-winning attack last summer, but he too will return initially as a specialist batsman only in a tour match which starts on Sunday against Sri Lanka A.
