Anderson targets Roses game as he battles shoulder injury

Anderson, England’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker, will take a six-week break from the game and miss two county games as he looks to get himself ready to face India later in the summer.

He has been forced to manage the ongoing shoulder injury for a while already, and will be monitored closely ahead of the five-Test series, which starts on August 1.

“My shoulder has been an issue ongoing for the last couple of years and it is just managing it and looking after it best way I can,” he told Test Match Special during England’s one-day international defeat against Scotland. “I just need to get in the gym and get it strong. The India schedule is ridiculous with five Tests in six weeks and that will put a lot of stress on it. The way the fixtures have fallen it is a shame I will miss some games for Lancashire.”

Trevor Bayliss had earlier revealed that the plan will be for Anderson, who played a starring role in the recent win over Pakistan at Headingley, to take an initial break from the game before stepping up his rehab as the India series approaches, and Anderson revealed a plan to return to action against Roses rivals Yorkshire in late July.

He said: “The idea is to put in the work now and then by the end of July Championship game against Yorkshire that I will be ready for and then get through the five Test matches if possible.

“It is wear and tear. Rehab improves it and makes it feel better and it is just about trying to manage it through certain periods.”

England opener Alastair Cook hit 58 as Essex reached 221-6 in reply to Lancashire’s 301 in the Specsavers County Championship Division One clash at Old Trafford.

Joe Mennie took three wickets for 40 runs for the hosts in an impressive 16-over return, before rain washed out all but seven balls of the evening session. Essex will start day three 80 runs in arrears.

Craig Overton’s four-wicket burst put Somerset in charge against Nottinghamshire in their match at Taunton.

The all-rounder’s 4-53 pushed the visitors to 134 all out in reply to Somerset’s 392, with Ross Taylor hitting 74.

After following on, Nottinghamshire reached 112 without loss to trail by 146 at the close on day two, with Jake Libby and Steven Mullaney both unbeaten on 54.

Rory Burns’ 151 drove Surrey into total control over Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl, before Rikki Clarke took 5-29.

Derbyshire reduced Durham to 155-6 in their second innings at the Riverside, Duanne Olivier claiming 3-51. Durham lead by just 46 runs.

Darren Stevens hit 89 as Kent wrestled control over Gloucestershire in Bristol.

The 42-year-old veteran all-rounder shared in a 161-stand with Joe Denly, who put together a fine 107 in Kent’s record first-innings total of 582-9.

Stevens then took 2-11 as Gloucester slipped to 44-4.