James Anderson faces a race against time to be fit to play against Pakistan

England cold be without their pace bowling spearhead and newly crowned world no.1 Test bowler James Anderson. Anderson is in doubt for the first Test at Lord’s starting on July 14, with England’s record wicket-taker believed to be suffering from a stress fracture in his right shoulder blade. This might just be blessing in disguise for Pakistan.

The England and Wales Cricket Board has confirmed Anderson will now miss Lancashire’s County Championship match against Nottinghamshire early next month – what was meant to be his sole red-ball warm-up ahead of the first Test. It leaves him facing a race against time to be fit to play Pakistan.

Anderson enjoyed a stupendous run with the ball recently in the Test series against Sri Lanka. England’s record wicket-taker snapped 21 wickets in just 3 matches. But, while Anderson’s injury might have put the English fans in a state of slight bother, there’s another news which might help them cheer a bit.

All-rounder Ben Stokes, who missed out the last two Tests of the Sri Lanka series due a knee injury, was back to field playing for Durham in the Natwest T20 Blast. This will create some confusion in the selectors mind. Stokes’ replacement Chris Woakes also made most of the opportunity he got.

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Apart from making a choice between Stokes and Woakes, they will also have to make at least one change for the opening match, after No.3 batsman Nick Compton announced he was taking a break from cricket.The first Test of the four-match test series begins on 3rd July at Lord’s.