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Injury forces Anderson out of fourth Test

England's leading wicket-taker is out of the remainder of the Edgbaston Test and will miss the fourth at Trent Bridge with a side strain

England's Ashes campaign has suffered a major blow with star fast-bowler Jimmy Anderson ruled out of the fourth Test due to a side strain.

The right-armer will also miss the remainder of the third Test at Edgbaston, which continues tonight.

His availability for the fifth Test at The Oval will be determined in due course.

A replacement for the fourth Test is yet to be announced, but it's likely Mark Wood - who played the first two Tests but was replaced by Steve Finn at Edgbaston - would come into the side.

Anderson sparked a dramatic Australian batting collapse on Wednesday, taking 6-47 as England ripped through the tourists for just 136.

Anderson rips through Australia on day one

It came after he went wicketless in the second Test at Lord's the previous week.

The 33-year-old had taken the key wicket of David Warner on Thursday before he grabbed at his side in his follow through later in the evening session.

He looked to push on but pulled out of his run-up next ball and promptly left the field.

Image Id: ~/media/A83A273FF67E4930B5341862647DD07C

Anderson leaves Edgbaston on day two // Getty Images

The right-armer's absence from the fourth Test at Trent Bridge, starting on Thursday, is a big boost for Australia given his good recent form and impressive record in Nottingham.

Anderson has taken 53 wickets in eight Tests at the ground, including a match-winning haul of 10 against Australia two years ago.

He's taken six five-wicket hauls at the home of Nottinghamshire, including his Test best of 7-43 against New Zealand in 2008.

Trent Bridge was also the scene of his remarkable stand with Joe Root against India last year, when he scored a career-best 81 in a union of 198 to set a new record for the highest last-wicket partnership in Test history.

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