Anderson set to miss Bangladesh tour

England fast bowler Jimmy Anderson is set to miss England’s Test tour of Bangladesh due to injury and is also in doubt for their subsequent five-Test series in India, according to reports.

English newspaper The Guardian has reported that Anderson, who missed the first Test of England’s recent home series against Pakistan due to a stress fracture to his right shoulder, has been plagued by the same injury and has been advised to rest ahead of their important tour of India.

While the 34-year-old returned for the final three Tests of the Pakistan series, he didn’t play for his county side Lancashire at back-end of the domestic season and scans have suggested he should extend his lay-off to adequately recover.

Fellow seamer Jake Ball, who made his debut at the Lord’s Test against Pakistan in Anderson’s place, is set to provide cover for the veteran for the two Tests against Bangladesh.

Anderson last week expressed concern over England’s schedule in the coming months, with the side set to play seven Tests in two months on the subcontinent.

"It’s a tough one because as a player, if you’re fit, you want to play, simple as that," he said. "No matter what the format, you’re desperate to play.

"But there may well come a time when it will get managed. At 34 I probably have to manage myself, or be managed, quite well.

"You want, if possible, to play every Test but India is going to be five back-to-back and that’s a huge ask for any bowler."

England look set to begin the red-ball leg of the Bangladesh tour without their most prolific batsman and captain, as well as their star bowler Anderson.

Test skipper Alastair Cook, who will travel to Bangladesh a week ahead of the rest of the Test squad, will then return to the United Kingdom for the birth of his second child.

Cook will miss the two warm-up matches but is expected to be back in time for the first Test in Chittagong, starting on October 20.

Meanwhile, the ECB has announced that South Africa will face the second-string England Lions ahead of their four-Test series in England next year.

Later in the season, the West Indies will have a trio of three-day games against county sides before the start of their three-Test series against England.

In July, the ECB confirmed the major international fixtures for both the South Africa and West Indies tours, with England also staging the 2017 Champions Trophy tournament featuring the world's top eight one-day nations.

South Africa A will also visit England in 2017 for a tour culminating in a 'Test' against the Lions in Canterbury in June.

England's Tour of Bangladesh

• 7 Oct: 1st ODI, Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka
• 9 Oct: 2nd ODI, Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka
• 12 Oct: 3rd ODI, Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong
• 20-24 Oct: 1st Test, Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong
• 28 Oct - 1 Nov: 2nd Test, Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka