James Anderson: Ashes fitness race for England bowler to face Australia
- Published
James Anderson bowled only eight balls on the third morning at Sedbergh School before picking up the injury
England's all-time leading wicket taker James Anderson faces a race to be fit for the Ashes after tearing a calf muscle in a county game for Lancashire.
Anderson suffered "a low grade calf muscle tear" on Tuesday's third day in the match against Durham at Sedbergh.
The 36-year-old will miss Lancashire's next two County Championship matches as he undergoes a fitness programme.
The first of the five Ashes Tests between England and Australia starts on 1 August at Edgbaston.
Before that, England face Ireland in a one-off Test at Lord's, starting on 24 July.
Anderson has taken an English record 575 wickets in 148 Tests to stand fourth on all the time-list behind only Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne and Anil Kumble.
He claimed his 950th first-class wicket last week at Sedbergh, having now taken 30 in six Championship matches so far this season, at an average of just 9.37, from 159.4 overs.