Alastair Cook confirms unavailability of James Anderson for first Test against India

Although he attested that his body was not letting him down in recent times, James Anderson has been ruled out of the first Test match against India in their upcoming tour. At the moment, Bangladesh is playing hosts to England who is in the country for a tour comprising of both ODIs and Tests. There are two Test matches pending in the current tour.

Alastair Cook, who is away from the first team and back in England due to the birth of his second child made a statement regarding the availability of James Anderson for the tour. Cook also added that he would not be ready for the first Test, but a call would be taken if he were to make it for the tour.

“He won’t be ready for the first Test match,” Cook said ahead of the opening Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong. “He might be ready to do some training, but he won’t be ready for the first Test. A decision will be made on when he comes out over the next week or so.”

The England skipper also went on to add that the England management was certainly concerned about his fitness as Anderson had not bowled in recent times. James Anderson also had somewhat of a sketchy series against Pakistan at home where he did not have the desired effect his skipper would have expected from him.

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“I spoke to him last night and he is training well and in good shape physically,” Cook said. “But he hasn’t yet bowled and that has been the problem in the past. However physically well he’s been in the rest of his body, it’s when he starts bowling [that the problem occurs].”

In an earlier interview with James Anderson, the latter had revealed that he was not concerned about his fitness stating that he was feeling very good about his game and had 3-4 years ahead of him in terms of his cricketing career.