Anderson ruled out, Archer firms for Test debut

England have confirmed injured seam star Jimmy Anderson will miss the second Ashes Test at Lord’s and his availability for the rest of the series remains unclear.

Anderson bowled just four overs on the opening day of the first Test at Edgbaston before he felt tightness in his calf and was sent for an MRI scan. England confirmed today that the scans revealed an unspecified calf injury.

Anderson will now miss the Lord’s Test on August 14-18 and start a rehabilitation programme, with his participation in the final three Tests of the series to be determined over the coming weeks.

Uncapped quick Jofra Archer, who will play his first red-ball match in almost a year for Sussex’s second XI this week, is tipped to replace Anderson at Lord’s.

On Monday, England skipper Joe Root defended his side’s decision to pick Anderson in the first Test despite him having been sidelined for a month due to an injury to the same right calf he hurt again at Edgbaston.

"He passed every medical test,” Root said. “He was fit to play.

"It's one of those freak scenarios where he pulled up - because it's the same calf, we're not sure whether it's a slightly different injury.

"Jimmy in those conditions, if he bowls 15 overs, things could have been very different in the first innings in general."

Attention will now turn to how Anderson progresses in the coming weeks and if he can get some match practice before possibly making a return later in the series.

The third Test of the series at Headingley starts on August 22, just four days after the Lord’s Test is scheduled to end, and Anderson’s county side Lancashire have a four-day match against Glamorgan on August 18-21.

The Test series concludes with matches at Old Trafford - Anderson’s home ground - on September 4-8 and The Oval on September 12-16.

Apart from the four overs Anderson bowled during Australia’s 251-run win at Edgbaston, the 37-year-old hasn’t bowled in a match since he first injured his calf during a County Championship game on July 1.

With fellow quick Mark Wood already ruled out of the Ashes due to knee surgery, England selectors will keep a keen eye on Archer’s match for Sussex against Gloucestershire this week, while Sam Curran and Olly Stone are other pace options they can turn to.

Anderson has 575 Test wickets from a Test career stretching back to 2003, and only spin bowlers Muthiah Muralidaran (800), Shane Warne (708) and Anil Kumble (619) have been more successful.

2019 Qantas Ashes Tour of England

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.

England squad: Joe Root (c), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes (vc), Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.

First Test: Australia beat England by 251 runs at Edgbaston

Tour match: Australians v Worcestershire, August 7-9

Second Test: August 14-18,Lord's

Third Test: August 22-26, Headingley

Tour match: Australians v Derbyshire, August 29-31

Fourth Test: September 4-8, Old Trafford

Fifth Test: September 12-16, The Oval