James Anderson Expects To Remain Injury-Free For English Summer
Apr 6, 2019 at 2:13 PM
England fast bowler James Anderson, who had missed five Tests for England in last 11 Tests due to a shoulder problem, is hoping to remain injury free for the summer season as he is also expecting to participate in the Ashes series later this year which could also be his fourth Ashes schedule.
“I’ll manage the first part of the season with Lancashire to see how my shoulder pulls up and how my fitness goes, and if I’m fit then I definitely will try to play all seven Tests,” Guardian quoted Anderson.
The all-time Test leading wicket-taker Anderson, who is recovering from shoulder injury stated there’s a ‘long way’ to go into the seven Tests and has further expressed to see how his shoulder works out prior to the home Test series’ while playing for his club in a first-class cricket which is scheduled against Essex on April 7.
“The tests are a long way away,” the right-arm seamer Anderson, who picked 467 wickets for England was quoted as saying by English media on Tuesday.
The 34-year-old stated he would like to go slowly to allow his body to manage the workload to preparing for the upcoming fixtures.
“I’ll manage the first bit, so I get enough cricket in so I am ready for that test series but not so much that I turn up tired,” Anderson remarked.
Anderson, who suffered a shoulder injury last year, is gearing up to prepare for his English County side Lancashire for the 2017 County Championship.
On the other hand, England is set to play four-match Test series against South Africa which is scheduled at Lord’s from July 6.
“I’m focused on staying fit… and I need to show the selectors that I’m still eager and hungry,” Anderson revealed.
England is also scheduled to host three-match series in August-September against West Indies.
However, Anderson is yet to set his focus on the Ashes tour which is scheduled in Australia from 23-27 November at Gabba in Brisbane.
“The Ashes is a very important part of this year for the English cricket team and I’ll have to focus on that closer to the time,” Anderson concluded.
Anderson has played 122 Tests since making his Test debut against India at Mumbai in May 2003. He has also played 194 One-day Internationals in which he bagged 269 wickets. The Burnley-born also picked 18 wickets in 19 Twenty20 Internationals.