Anderson targets fifth Test return

James Anderson has been ruled out of the fourth Ashes Test at Trent Bridge but is hopeful of being fit for a possible decider at the Oval, which starts on August 20*. Anderson did not take any further part in the Edgbaston Test after being forced off the field with a side strain on the second day.

Anderson was two balls into his ninth over of Australia's second innings when he felt some pain on his left side. He bowled another one after that and ran in for the fourth but pulled up to then leave the field. The ECB had called the injury a "tight side" which was to be "assessed overnight".

Speaking after England had secured an eight-wicket win, Anderson said: "I'm not going to play the next game, unfortunately, but I'm hoping I can get myself fit for the Oval. It's a bit sore, I felt something on one of the deliveries yesterday and Stuart Broad, who's had experience of that sort of injury, said 'Don't bowl another ball and risk it'. I set off for another one and then thought, he's right.

"I've never had that sort of injury before. I felt a bit stiff, I just put it down to that and the next ball I could feel something so I came off.

"The last 24 hours has been talking to the medical team and trying to figure out if it is realistic," he said, of his chances of playing at The Oval. "They were pretty happy with me this morning, checked me over and were happy it didn't look too serious, so that's what I'm aiming for."

Mark Wood, who missed out at Edgbaston with an ankle niggle, might be considered first in line to replace Anderson for Trent Bridge. Liam Plunkett and the uncapped Mark Footitt could also come into consideration. Chris Woakes, who was in the Test side last summer, has been working his way back from injury, while Chris Jordan has not played since suffering a side strain in June.

England captain, Alastair Cook, said it would be an opportunity for someone to come into the side and impress.

"It's obviously a huge miss because Jimmy is outstanding but it gives an opportunity," Cook said. "We had an opportunity, at 1-1 in the series, to grab it and we've done it as a side, now it will give whoever is selected that opportunity to fill Jimmy's boots. Yes, it's going to be hard but it's and opportunity for someone to stand up."

Anderson took a six-for on the first day at Edgbaston and was instrumental in restricting Australia to 136 to lay the platform for England to take a 2-1 lead. In the second innings he removed the top-scorer David Warner for 77 to finish with 1 for 15 from 8.3 overs.

Whoever is selected will have a job to emulate Anderson's impressive record at Trent Bridge, which reads 53 wickets in eight matches at an average of 19.24. He picked up a 10-wicket haul in the last Ashes Test there, in 2013, and has six five-fors overall. In his last Test at the ground, against India in 2014, he also scored 81 at No. 11, his maiden fifty, in a record stand of 198.