Saturday 5 November 2016 12:36, UK
James Anderson is set to join England's tour of India in Rajkot before the first Test, captain Alastair Cook has confirmed.
Anderson satisfied England's medical staff, in a series of fitness tests over the past week in Loughborough, that he is sufficiently recovered from the stress fracture of the shoulder blade in his bowling arm.
England's all-time leading wicket-taker will, however, not be ready in time to join his fellow frontline seamer Stuart Broad in the latter's 100th Test - due to start on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports.
"It's really good news, he's probably a week ahead of where we thought he was going to be," Cook said. "He's ready to come out, so it's about trying to get him out to Rajkot as quick as we can.
"I heard he may be on the same flight as Straussy (Andrew Strauss) on Tuesday, hopefully, but that's just hearsay.
"It's great news, he's worked incredibly hard to get back. Speaking to the guys at Loughborough, and speaking to him, there's no more he can do there, he's got the all clear.
"It's about him acclimatising and getting some time in the nets. It's great that he's put the effort in, rather than take the easy option and come back in July, he wants to make a difference in this series."
It is more likely Anderson will have to wait until at least the third Test of five, in Mohali at the end of November, before he is fit enough to take part.
But when asked about when Anderson may return, Cook added: "We will not know until we see him, but just chatting to him yesterday and a couple of days before, the second Test is a possibility.
"We'll know more when his body reacts to being here."
