James Anderson groin strain raises England Ashes fears

James Anderson is a doubt for England's first Test of the summer, starting against Ireland on June 1, after confirmation that he had suffered a "minor strain to his right groin" while playing for Lancashire.

Anderson did not participate any further in the County Championship game against Somerset at Old Trafford after returning figures of 14-7-16-2 on day one. His absence was met with no official update of an injury until the ECB belatedly released the news on Sunday evening, less than three weeks before the game at Lord's.

England are expected to announce their squad to face Ireland next week, with Anderson, who went for a scan on Saturday, set to be "assessed nearer the time", according to an ECB statement.

With the Ashes beginning in little over a month, and Lancashire playing no first-class cricket between now and June 11, Anderson could struggle to prove his fitness ahead of the first Test of the series at Edgbaston.

The injury will spark memories of Australia's visit in 2019, when Anderson played the opener but bowled just four overs before suffering a series-ending calf strain. The 40-year-old, who is the third-highest wicket-taker in Test history, has played four out of five matches for Lancashire so far this season, claiming 16 wickets at 20.30.

England are already likely to be without Jofra Archer for the start of the Ashes, after the fast bowler returned early from the IPL to continue rehabilitation on a longstanding elbow problem, while Olly Stone is expected to be out for a number of weeks due to a hamstring strain sustained while playing for Nottinghamshire.