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Anderson "concerned" for Stokes

England quick provides an update on his own fitness and shares his worries about England's superstar allrounder

England Test quick James Anderson says he is concerned by the injuries his countryman Ben Stokes has endured over the past 12 months, believing his country may have to take a cautious approach to their star allrounder.

Stokes is set to play in England’s opening Champions Trophy match against Bangladesh at The Oval on Thursday, but the 25-year-old was in doubt for the tournament opener having battled a knee injury since returning from the Indian Premier League.

He suffered knee soreness in the opening ODI and only bowled three overs in the second one-dayer, despite scoring a century in the same match.

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Having undergone knee scans which cleared him of serious damage, Stokes was rested for England’s third and final one-day international against South Africa, but bowled at training on Wednesday and is expected to play as both a batsman and a bowler against Bangladesh.

His latest brush with injury followed knee surgery last year, which saw Stokes miss England’s Test series against Sri Lanka, while he was also forced to sit out two Tests against Pakistan due to a calf injury.

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"The worry is how much Ben has played," Anderson told the BBC.

"At some point, you think something is going to break down.

"It is a worry when someone so young has had a problem with his knee and he's still getting that when he bowls.”

Anderson said the latest scare was “a little bit concerning” and said England would need to be wise in how they used their star allrounder.

"He will play with a broken leg - he loves playing, he charges round the outfield and is a fantastic player for the side.

"But it's possible he might need holding back. He gives you so much, he's the lynchpin of that England side. It's crucial for him to be firing on all cylinders.

"It sounds like it is an issue but they can manage him. Getting five or six overs out of him would be a bonus."

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Anderson also provided an update on his own fitness concerns, after suffering a groin injury while playing for Lancashire in the County Championship last month.

With England’s first Test against South Africa to begin on July 6, the 34-year-old is optimistic he’ll make a domestic return in time to gain match fitness for the series opener at Lord’s.

"I'm hoping to get a game for Lancashire before the first Test.

“It feels good at the minute and I've had a couple of weeks of rehab."


Champions Trophy 2017 Guide

AUSTRALIA SQUAD: Steve Smith (c), David Warner, Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, John Hastings, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa

Other squads: Every Champions Trophy squad

Group A: Australia, New Zealand, England, Bangladesh.

Group B: India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Pakistan.


Schedule


Warm-up matches


26 May – Australia d Sri Lanka by two wickets, The Oval

27 May – Bangladesh lost to Pakistan by two wickets, Edgbaston

28 May – India d New Zealand by 45 runs (D/L Method), The Oval

29 May – Australia v Pakistan no result, Edgbaston

30 May – New Zealand d Sri Lanka by six wickets, Edgbaston

30 May – India d Bangladesh by 240 runs, The Oval


Tournament


1 June – England v Bangladesh, The Oval (Day)

2 June – Australia v New Zealand, Edgbaston (D)

3 June – Sri Lanka v South Africa, The Oval (D)

4 June – India v Pakistan, Edgbaston (D)

5 June – Australia v Bangladesh, The Oval (D/N)

6 June – England v New Zealand, Cardiff (D)

7 June – Pakistan v South Africa, Edgbaston (D/N)

8 June – India v Sri Lanka, The Oval (D)

9 June – New Zealand v Bangladesh, Cardiff (D)

10 June – England v Australia, Edgbaston (D)

11 June – India v South Africa, The Oval (D)

12 June – Sri Lanka v Pakistan, Cardiff (D)

14 June – First semi-final (A1 v B2), Cardiff (D)

15 June – Second semi-final (A2 v B1), Edgbaston (D)

18 June – Final, The Oval (D)


19 June – Reserve day (D)