James Anderson is officially ruled out of the Ireland Test match starting tomorrow (July 24) at Lord’s, suffering from a right calf injury. He will continue to be assessed ahead of the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston on August 1.
Anderson picked up the injury in a game for his county, Lancashire, on July 2. Five days later, an MRI scan confirmed it was a tear.
Though he was announced in the squad for Wednesday’s Ireland Test match, he was always touch-and-go to make the final XI. Now, he will focus on getting fit for the opening Ashes Test which begins a week on Thursday.
It will mean a decision between whether to hand Olly Stone or Lewis Gregory their Test debut. On paper, it is likely to be Stone of Warwickshire who is the quickest bowler in the squad given the absence of Mark Wood and Jofra Archer.
