England's Anderson ruled out of Ireland Test with calf injury

James Anderson, who was eyeing to regain his top spot at ICC Test Bowlers Rankings with  England’s four-day Test against Ireland at Lord’s starting on Wednesday has been ruled out due to a right calf injury.

The opening bowler has failed to recover from the injury sustained when playing for his county Lancashire against Durham on July 2.

“Jimmy will continue to be assessed” ahead of the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston on August 1, an England and Wales Cricket Board statement said on Tuesday.

Also read: Chance for James Anderson to regain ICC top spot

Chief selector Ed Smith stated when naming the squad last week that England’s record wicket-taker would not be risked ahead of the Ashes series if there were any lingering doubts over his injury.

Bowling resources have already been stretched by side strains sustained by Mark Wood and Jofra Archer in the recent World Cup victory over New Zealand.

Anderson, 36, no longer plays one-day international cricket so did not play in the World Cup.

The Lancashire swing bowler, with 575 scalps, trails only the spin trio of Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan (800 wickets), Australia’s Shane Warne (708) and India’s Anil Kumble (619) in the all-time list of Test wicket-takers.