England’s premier fast bowler, James Anderson, has confirmed his recovery from a groin injury and expressed his readiness for the upcoming Ashes test against Australia next month.

Anderson, who holds the record for the most wickets by an English bowler in tests with 685 dismissals, sustained the injury while playing for Lancashire last week. As a result, he is unlikely to participate in the solitary test against Ireland prior to the Ashes, with the inclusion of uncapped bowler Josh Tongue in the squad.

When asked about his fitness for the opener against Australia at Edgbaston on June 16, the 40-year-old Anderson assured the Telegraph newspaper, “Yes, definitely.”

He added, “I have no issues with running and bowling again, and I remain optimistic that I can continue my current form and be fully prepared for the Ashes.”

Anderson outlined his plan to gradually increase his workload at Lancashire over the next few days before joining the England squad on Sunday to assess his progress. While he is part of the squad for the Ireland test, a final decision regarding his participation will be made closer to the match.

The availability of Anderson is of utmost importance to England, especially in the absence of the injured fast bowler Jofra Archer. After suffering a 4-0 defeat in the previous Ashes series in Australia, England will be eager to field a strong and experienced bowling lineup for the upcoming contest.