England pacer James Anderson has been ruled out of the first Test against India with a shoulder strain. The 34-year-old has struggled with injuries in the recent past, and a shoulder strain has put him out of the reckoning for the first of the five Tests that England will play in India this winter.
Anderson has already been ruled of England's upcoming Tests against Bangladesh. Cook confirmed that England's highest Test wicket taker will not be a part of the first Test against India, which begins on November 9th in Nagpur,"He won't be ready for the first Test match. 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."
During the last two Test series that India and England have faced off, – 2012/13 in India and 2014 in England, Anderson went on to be the difference between the two sides, regularly troubling India's top batsmen. Cook also added that despite being in good shape, it is Anderson's lack of match practice that will be the biggest stumbling block during his road to recovery, "I spoke to him last night and he is training well and in good shape physically. 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]," Cook said.
After completing the Bangladesh tour, England head straight to India, where they will play five Tests between November 9th and December 16th. India and England will also play three One-day Internationals and as many Twenty20 Internationals.