Anderson unlikely to feature this season

James Anderson is unlikely to play any meaningful cricket for Lancashire this season as he continues his recovery from the stress fracture of his back. Mike Watkinson, Lancashire's manager, has said that he is hopeful of Anderson begin back to full fitness but not up the standards for first-class action.

"I don't think we've got any sights on him playing competitive cricket this season," Watkinson said. "He should be bowling at 100 per cent before the end of the season, but I don't see him doing it in a first-class game."

Anderson has been out of action since the end of England's tour of India when he started to feel discomfort after returning from the one-day series. He underwent scans and was found to have a stress fracture in his lower back, which required him to spend six weeks in a corset-style splint during the daytime.

On Thursday, Anderson was named in England's preliminary Champions Trophy 30 but if he was to make the final cut it would be his first serious action since March.