The T20 mania from the start of the year 2016 has finally subsided and national teams are now slowly getting involved in the longest format of the game.
England were too hot to handle for Sri Lanka in the recent tour as the World T20 runners-up ran ragged over the sub-continent outfit.
And the season is set to continue for England as another sub-continent team in Pakistan are all set to travel to England for a bi-lateral series with all three formats.
The first game of the series will be a test match that will be played on the 14th of July at the Lords in London. However, the hosts were dealt a cruel blow in their build-up to that game.
The England national team might be without the world’s number 1 test bowler in Jimmy Anderson for the series.
The 33-year was simply unplayable against Sri Lanka but picked up a stress fracture in his right shoulder, something that is sure to keep him out of the first test.
Though the medical team are hopeful that he will return to action for the second encounter, the fact that the injury is to his bowling arm might just complicate things and delay his comeback.
He picked up 22-wickest as he was on fire in a three match test series that the hosts comfortably won 2-0. This performance saw him leap into the top place in the ICC rankings for bowlers that was released recently.
The England and Wales Cricket board already announced that he will play no part in Lancashire’s County Championship match against Nottinghamshire early next month and is also doubtful for the international affair at Lords later in the month.
This will come as a huge blow for England who will be hoping that the likes of Stuart Broad will take his place as a strike bowler with the new ball.
However, the hosts do have some good news coming in as all-rounder Ben Stokes is ahead of schedule in his recovery.
The 25-year old who suffered a knee surgery recently was back in action or Durham in their England domestic T20 showdown with Yorkshire on Friday night.
He will also play an important role for England in Pakistan’s tour in July.