Anderson set to miss opening India Test

England's bowling spearhead James Anderson will miss the opening Test against India next month. The game will be his 134th Test, and he is still just 31. "Probably more than appearances the consecutive record is the proudest thing for me".

However, Cook ruled it out and gave no commitment regarding the same. "We are not concentrating on not having played for a long time". "The danger is looking at it", he told journalists late Tuesday in Chittagong.

England, on the other hand, play the highest number of Tests among all the 10 Test-playing nations.

Duckett, who shone with the bat during England's 2-1 win in the one-day series, was among the first group of three batsmen in the nets on Wednesday along with Ben Stokes and Joe Root.

Cook, who was sacked as England's ODI captain just two months before the 2015 World Cup, admitted that being dismissed from the duties of limited overs cricket has been a blessing in disguise as he gets to spend more time with his family now.

"You get into a rhythm of playing Test cricket, there's no doubt about it", said Cook during the pre-match press conference this afternoon.

He said: "Over the last two weeks it has not been that close to my mind and I did have to be reminded about it yesterday, but I would never have thought in 2006 when I made my debut I would get close to breaking that. It will be a very special moment", he said.

"Luck plays a huge part in terms of never breaking a finger in catching practice or blowing up your knee the day before and getting a knock on it so you can't walk".

"I'm clearly very proud to beat a record set by an England great".

Asked whether Anderson would be fit to play any part in India, Cook said: "I think so".

Paceman Anderson is still recovering from the shoulder injury that ruled him out of the trip to Bangladesh.

The game in Chittagong is the first of seven Tests in the subcontinent for England before Christmas, a punishing schedule where the tourists will face unnatural surfaces and sweltering temperatures.

"I spoke to him last night and he is training well and in good shape physically". The decision is going to be made over the next week on that (when he goes to India).

The Lancashire seamer has been struggling with a shoulder injury since the summer and has not played since England's 10-wicket defeat to Pakistan in mid-August.

"I don't think he'll be there for the start".