India vs England: Blow for Alastair Cook as Jimmy Anderson ruled out of 1st Test in Chittagong

Chittagong: England`s record-breaking bowler Jimmy Anderson, who has already been ruled out of the current tour of Bangladesh, will miss next month`s first Test against India, captain Alastair Cook said Wednesday.

"I don`t think he`ll be there for the start. He might be ready to do some training, but he won`t be ready for the first Test match" in India, Cook told reporters.

"I don`t know what`s happening -- they will be making some decisions over the next seven days or so. I spoke to him last night and he is training well and in good shape physically."

Anderson, England`s all-time leading Test wicket-taker, has not played since the fourth Test against Pakistan in August because of a shoulder injury. He has not travelled to Bangladesh, where England on Thursday begin a two-Test series in Chittagong.

Asked whether he was optimistic the 34-year-old would play some part in the five-Test India series, Cook refused to give any guarantees and said a decision on when he would travel had still to be made.

"You should probably speak to the medical team and Jimmy on that. He hasn`t yet bowled since, and that has been the problem in the past," Cook told reporters in Chittagong.

"He`s making some really good strides and we`ll know more later on."

Anderson`s continued absence would be a significant blow to England`s chances in India, who are the world`s number one Test side and have a formidable home record.

England are expected to field three spinners in the Chittagong Test, with the 39-year-old Gareth Batty expected to be selected after more than a decade in the international wilderness.