Cricket news - England bowler James Anderson ruled out for rest of Ashes, replaced by Craig Overton

England fast bowler James Anderson has been ruled out of the rest of the Ashes series against Australia due to a niggling calf injury, the country's cricket board announced on Friday.

Somerset seamer Craig Overton has been added to the 13-man squad for the fourth Ashes test at Old Trafford that begins on September 4.

The injury has plagued Anderson for a number of weeks, with England's record wicket-taker feeling pain in the area as he sought to prove his fitness in a Lancashire Second XI fixture earlier this week.

Anderson will therefore miss out at his home ground of Old Trafford for the Test, with Overton added to the 12 that was named ahead of last week's dramatic one-wicket victory at Headingley.

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James Anderson of England celebrates against India

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The 37-year-old had bowled 20 overs for Lancashire second XI in a game against Durham, in a bid to get back on track and prove his return to fitness.

It was understood that Anderson was planned to be included in England’s fourth Test squad after coming through the extensive work out in the game.

But the bowler has now been deemed unfit to make his return in time.

There has been some scrutiny on Jason Roy, whose paltry average from seven innings as a Test opener stands at 8.85, but he has been retained, meaning Surrey team-mate Ollie Pope - tipped for a recall - misses out.

Jamie Overton has been called up by England

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Anderson suffered an initial injury to his calf during a County Championship fixture against Durham in June, placing his involvement in the first Test in some doubt.

While he managed to take to the field, another injury to the same area restricted him to four overs on the opening morning at Edgbaston and precluded his involvement for the second and third Tests.

He stepped up his recovery by bowling 20 overs on Tuesday while representing Lancashire in a second-string fixture against Durham at Chester Boughton Hall and sent down a further nine on Thursday.

But it was at the conclusion of his nine-over spell where he became aware of more pain to his calf, and after consultation with the England medical team, he was made unavailable for the rest of the Ashes.

The series is tied 1-1.

England squad: Joe Root (captain), Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Jason Roy, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Joe Denly, Stuart Broad, Sam Curran, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Jofra Archer, Jack Leach, Craig Overton (Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru Editing by Christian Radnedge)

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