James Anderson fitness to be monitored by England after bowler picks up groin injury

England will monitor the fitness of James Anderson after the seamer suffered a groin injury during Lancashire’s draw with Somerset.

While some of England’s star names are in the IPL, others are working on their sharpness in the County Championship ahead of an Ashes summer.

Anderson, 40, picked up 14 wickets in Lancashire’s opening three County Championship games, and took two more against Somerset on the opening day of the match.

But he left the field later in the day and took no further part in the contest, which ended in a draw on Sunday.

Lancashire coach Glen Chapple said he hoped the injury was not serious for a player who has taken 685 Test wickets for England.

The opening Ashes Test with Australia gets underway on June 16.

Ben Stokes’ side also face Ireland at Lord’s on June 1, and England confirmed Anderson would be closely monitored.

“Anderson suffered the injury on day one on Thursday whilst bowling and stayed off the field for the remainder of the match, which ended in a draw today.

“His fitness will be assessed nearer the time of the LV= Insurance Test match against Ireland, which takes place at Lord’s starting on Thursday 1 June 2023.”

England have a strong crop of seam options, but there have been injury problems in recent weeks.

Olly Stone has been ruled out of at least the first Test against Australia with a hamstring injury, while Jofra Archer left the IPL after suffering soreness in the elbow that he had surgery on last year.