Jimmy hopes to be fit for Pakistan series

England fast bowler James Anderson is "optimistic" he will be fit to play in the first Test against Pakistan after taking tentative steps in his recovery from a rare shoulder injury.

Anderson pulled up sore after bowling in the third Test against Sri Lanka, and later had a CT scan following the match, which revealed a stress fracture in his right shoulder.

It is such a rare injury amongst cricketers, the England medical team are said to believe there has only been one other reported case. Anderson did the damage with his final ball of the Test match, initially thinking he had pulled a muscle.

"It was only discovered when I had a scan to look at some muscle damage in my right shoulder," Anderson told The Telegraph UK.

"I'd been aware of that for a little while but I felt it most when I sent down my final delivery of the Lord's Test against Sri Lanka.

Anderson is not going to play any competitive cricket before the first Test against Pakistan begins on July 14, having already been ruled out of Lancashire's next two County Championship matches.

He bowled "gently" in the nets this week, and has been able to complete gym work without issue, raising the 33-year-old's hopes of being fit.

"I'm not playing against (Nottinghamshire) but I'll be at Trent Bridge and will do some more work on my bowling," Anderson said. "Gently to begin with, let's see how it goes. I've been doing some weights and gym sessions with no problems. So I'm optimistic that I'll be okay for Lord's.