Dubai: Jimmy Anderson hopes to feature in at least one game for Lancashire in this weekend’s Emirates Airline Twenty20 tournament in Dubai as he bids to prove his fitness ahead of an important summer for England.
The 34-year-old bowler has been suffering from a shoulder injury since last summer and made a brief return against India in December before a flare-up forced him to return home early.
He will now make tentative steps in his return during a six-team pre-season tournament at the ICC Academy on Thursday and Friday, featuring England’s Lancashire, Durham, Birmingham, MCC and Pakistan’s Lahore and Peshawar.
“It is going really well so far,” he said of his injury. “I’ve been doing a lot of work on it over the winter and have even bowled a bit in the nets out here [in Dubai], so I’m hopeful of playing a game towards the end of this trip.
“It is frustrating when you get an injury but it is part and parcel of the job, especially for a fast bowler.
“I’ve been pretty lucky with injuries throughout my career, so the last couple of months have been pretty frustrating, but it’s nice to finally see some light at the end of the tunnel and I’m really looking forward to the summer now,” added Anderson, who is England’s highest wicket taker with 467 wickets in 122 Tests since 2003.
Of his chances of getting back into the England team ahead of summer Tests at home to South Africa and West Indies before the Ashes Series in Australia this winter, Anderson added: “I’m confident, things are going well and I’ve still got three months until the first Test match. If I get a few more matches for Lancashire under my belt I’ll be fighting fit for the first Test.”
Anderson will also be coming back into the squad led by a new captain in Joe Root. “I’m really excited, it’s a great time for English cricket and Joe is an exciting player, our best player, and it’s a great opportunity for him, he’s a good lad. He will be looking to put his own stamp on things and I think all the guys are looking forward to playing under him.
“This summer is really important for us, not only as Joe is taking over as captain, but the whole team need to get their form going heading into the Ashes at the end of the year.
“We’ve seen over the past couple of months that Australia have been an improving side and are going to be really tough to beat, especially in their own backyard, so we have to be on top form when we go over there.”
Asked if in light of Ben Stokes’ recent lucrative £1.7 million (Dh7.78 million) deal to play for Rising Pune Supergiants in next month’s Indian Premier League (IPL), he wasn’t tempted to rush his return and play Twenty20 (T20), he replied: “My focus has always been on Test cricket, I want to get fit and play for England, that’s what I’ll keep doing. T20 isn’t really a priority for me, but it’s great to see guys like Ben Stokes get an opportunity.”
