England v Pakistan: Selectors play it safe rather than gamble over fitness of James Anderson

England's Jimmy Anderson,seen during a nets session on Wednesday at Lord's, will sit out the first Test. Picture: Paul Harding/PA.

Alastair Cook is grappling with a vexed tale of two brilliant bowlers '“ one absent for the Lord's Test which starts today; the other controversially present.

Mohammad Amir’s return to the Home of Cricket, for his first Test since the spot-fixing crisis of 2010, will overshadow the start of England’s four-match Investec series against Pakistan.

But it is a measure of James Anderson’s importance to the hosts that rumblings over the reasons he is missing – and whether England could have taken a gamble on his recovery from a stress fracture of his shoulder blade – outdid the inevitable questions about Amir at the captain’s press conference.

Cook was doubtless primed for his latest interrogation about the rights and wrongs of left-armer Amir’s rehabilitation and consequent revisiting of the scene of his crime.

England's Alastair Cook during a press conference at Lord's. Picture: Paul Harding/PA.

He spent more time, however, explaining England’s cautious approach to the injury which means their all-time leading wicket-taker will have to wait until his home Test in Manchester next week to join forces in this series.

According to a national newspaper report yesterday, England’s selectors were divided on whether Anderson should play and talks became heated, with coach Trevor Bayliss pushing for his inclusion but James Whitaker, Angus Fraser and Mick Newell against him being involved.

Without him, Cook will deploy debutant Jake Ball alongside the novice’s Nottinghamshire team-mate Stuart Broad – with Steven Finn and Chris Woakes completing the seam attack.

Anderson and England’s pivotal all-rounder Ben Stokes appeared in fine fettle in the Lord’s nets – but both must wait for their turn as they recover from injury.

MOVING ON UP: Yorkshire and England's Joe Root during a nets session at Lord's on Wednesday. Picture : Paul Harding/PA.

Cook confirmed the decision to hold Anderson back was a close call, saying: “Of course, there is always a temptation to take that gamble.

“With 450 wickets and the skill he has got ... (the selectors) talked about it a lot.”

Anderson’s injury sounds alarming, for anyone whose job it is to bowl at 80mph plus – but it is its rareness which has convinced England to take things slowly.

Cook added: “It’s one I don’t think many people have had.

Pakistan captain, Misbah Ul-Haq answers questions at Lord's on Wedneday. Picture: Paul Harding/PA.

“So there’s a little bit of a doubt about it, and the selectors have decided it’s too much of a risk to go for it.

“There are three other games, and he should be fit for Old Trafford.”

England are broadly encouraged that Anderson himself appears to believe he might have been fit in time – after stark initial indications.

“When it first happened, the scan results were slightly worrying,” said Cook.

“He has recovered quite quickly from it.”